BUSINESSES in Tamworth have welcomed an influx of customers over the Hats Off to Country weekend.
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The Pub’s Craig Power, also a member of the executive of the Tamworth Country Music Festival Stakeholder’s Group, said their venues had a great weekend.
“We had great crowds,” he said.
“We space it out to make sure we’re not doing too much because there are smaller crowds than January.”
Mr Power said they had more traditional country on Friday night at The Pub, and they had a big crowd and were booked out for dinner, while the Viper Creek Band played to packed houses at The Longyard on both Friday and Saturday nights.
“On Saturday, we had Karin Page at The Pub and had a full crowd which led into Bill Chambers,” he said.
“The Longyard had full crowds on the weekend – we didn’t have an empty house. There was also a fundraiser at Southgate.”
Pig and Tinder Box co-owner Fraser Haughton said the small bar had a “really busy weekend and Saturday, especially, was quite busy”.
“The lunchtime crowd on Saturday was definitely thick,” he said.
“I assume the influx was because of Hats Off. Overall, the weekend was busier than normal, but, in terms of Saturday lunchtime, which I assume is when they would have come here, it was definitely busier.”
Mr Haughton said the venue would get involved in the festival more next year.
“We’ll definitely look at doing it next year,” he said.
Post Office Hotel co-owner Andrew Coutts said they had “a decent weekend”.
“There was a small influx of people,” he said.
The hotel had the TSA songwriters on Saturday and Missy Lancaster on Saturday evening.
“There is a bit of a following for Hats Off in regards to people who come for the mid-year celebrations,” he said.
“Crowds were similar to last year.”
Mr Power also said the numbers of people were “definitely as strong as last year” and said he felt there was a “bit more awareness locally”.
“If you look at it now, there is more entertainment than a few years ago,” he said.
“It’s got the potential to grow, but it’s got to grow slowly. We were stoked because it’s been another year of positive feedback and growth.”