Category: Visitor Centre

WALKS AND TALKS WITH THE BELLMAN 2021

Pleased to announce that I have just had David Milton the Watchet Bell Man here in the Visitor Centre making arrangements for the Walks and Talks for this Summer.

Visitors and locals can book their place on a walk by emailing the Visitor Centre on info@lovewatchet.co.uk or by calling 01984 632101. Places will be limited and subject to Covid restrictions.  The walk is approximately 2.5mile and takes about 2 hours.

You will meet the Bell Man at the Visitor Centre where the first Port of Call is the Boat Museum. During your walk you will be shown local points of interest, told local history, hear weird and wonderful facts about Watchet and best of all the Bell Man will sing Sea Shanties at various points along the Walk. The content of the Walk can vary considerably depending on who you might meet on the way!

We have arranged the walks for a Wednesday when Watchet has its Market so that gives you two good reasons to visit. We have also arranged the time of the Walk to coincide with high tide so that Visitors can take pictures of the habour.

We have added dates for our evening walks over Halloween. These are very popular, with tales of local folklore and eerie goings on! Bring a torch and wrap up warm. (PS These walks have been known to end up at the Pub!!!)

These are the dates for the Walks and Talks with the Bell Man. We look forward to seeing you this season.

2nd June 11am, 23rd June 3pm

7th July 3pm, 14th July 11am, 21st July 3pm, 28th July 11am

4th August 3pm, 11th August 11am, 18th August 3pm, 25th August 11am

1st September 3pm

29th, 30th, 31st October 6pm

£6.00 per person,  Children under 12 Free.

Here comes 2021….

It all starts the year before………

In January we publish the Welcome to Watchet leaflet. The biggest part of the leaflet is the Calendar, the diary of events, the Whats on in Watchet! We spend the end of the winter collating all the local information about dates and whats happening and when. The leaflet then goes off for production and at the end of February a lovely glossy leaflet arrives for distribution. This is handed out all over West Somerset, taken to leaflet events, delivered to businesses and Visitor Centres countywide.

Our delivery arrives………..

In February 2020 I received 15,000 leaflets for distribution. We had no idea what was to follow very quickly after that delivery.

And mayhem begins…………..

Sorry we have to cancel Watchet Summer Time!

Sorry the Street Fairs will have to be cancelled!

Sorry we have to cancel Watchet Carnival!

Sorry we have to cancel Watchet 40s Weekend!

Sorry we are cancelling the Market until further notice!

Sorry we’re closing the pubs…………………….Nooooooooo!

Due to Covid-19 Watchet has had to cancel all of its amazing events and activities over the past 6 months.

PARTY CENTRAL

Known locally as ‘Party Central’, Watchet has reverted to a quiet harbour town. The tourists have visited and most have enjoyed the peacefulness that this town has to offer, the safety of a town that has fortunately missed much of the horrors of the pandemic. But for those of us who are used to a town full of action and fun, for those of us who love the normal weekends of activity and mayhem it feels like we are a town in waiting, a town waiting to emerge from the chrysalis of Covid 19. Watch out 2021 the residents and regular visitors of Watchet are itching to take central stage once more. Watchet the coiled spring of West Somerset feels ready to be released, ready to emerge once more into the amazing, lively, fun filled place it can be!

There are rumors of new things to be added to an already full calendar.  Of Fringe Festivals, of Reenactment weekends, of Drama and YES things will need to be different, but with so much time to forward plan we are all hoping that events organisers can start to make arrangements, can start to make announcements. The dates of the Watchet Festival have been announced this week and we wait for all the other groups to start adding their voice.

Over to you………….

If anyone has anything to add to the 2021 calendar please contact me I’m itching to get started. Here’s to a bigger and better line up, more events more fun and far lest Covid -19.

PS. If anyone has any ideas what I can do with 15,000 Whats NOT on in Watchet leaflets 2020 let me know!!!!

 

Watchet 1940s Weekend

ARE YOU READY FOR THE INVASION?

The clocks go back at the weekend to the 1940s.

The bunting has been sewn, plans have been made, props have been built, dresses have been bought, menus selected and panic has taken over!

The 13th, 14th and 15th September will see Watchet invaded by large groups of re-enactors. As part of the West Somerset Railway ’40s Weekend, Watchet once again goes all out to re-create a 1940s town. Shops and businesses will have bomb taped windows, shop windows will be dressed, cafes and pubs will serve 40s fare.

The air raid sirens will sound and the trains will carry military hardware.

FRIDAY INVASION

Friday sees the invasion of 140 evacuees! They will arrive by train and be taken to the Methodist hall where they will be allocated their families. Receive a lunch of spam sandwiches and cake and their allotted sweet ration.

In the Boat Museum, music from Betty Bluebird will be part of the evening celebration.

SATURDAY INVASION

The arrival of the re-enactors from all over the country  will see Watchet’s population explode! Saturday has a full program of entertainment on the Esplanade, with Brass bands, community choir, stalls, 40s singing groups and individuals. Military vehicles and personnel moving around the town. Tea shops filled with cake and pubs with liver and onions!!!

SUNDAY INVASION

Uniformed personnel will attend a church service on Sunday morning at the war memorial this will start the day rightly remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom. Then the music will begin once again on the esplanade, time for dancing and having fun. Drinking tea, eating cake and enjoying the afternoon sun (which has been booked!)until we can do no more.

By 5 o’clock we’ll all be full of cake, feet will ache, heads will be pounding and we’ll ll be totally exhausted!! Don’t forget……………….

ONLY A YEAR TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT ONE!!

Did you know that Coleridge wrote the Rime of the Ancient Mariner in Watchet
Experience the latest exhibition at Contains Art
Fun for all the family!
Fossil hunting on Helwell Beach
Watch the sunset from the lighthouse
Learn about Watchet's history at the museum
Listen to live music in one of our pubs
Go rock pooling on West Beach
Take in the views from Splash Point
Travel in style on the West Somerset Railway