Richmond Event Management (REM) worked with North Somerset Council to deliver a stunning 2018 Weston Air Festival, 23-24 June.
For the first time the Air Show organisers contracted the Bristol-based company to manage the event alongside them, with a view to achieving financial, logistical and content improvements.
REM’s nationwide experience working on waterside sites, including two years delivering improvements to Torbay Air Show underpinned the delivery of the successful event, which attracted 200,000 people to the Weston across the weekend and saw site revenues almost double.
REM’s team were on-site in Weston-super-Mare in the days building up to the festival and over the weekend, ensuring the huge volume of visitors to the popular holiday resort had a safe, smooth experience and were treated to some stunning air displays.
The health and safety of everyone on-site was paramount, with the REM team alongside other key partners such as Avon and Somerset Police, Coastguard and South West Ambulance Service implementing crowd and traffic management plans. Other members of REM the team focused on managing the concessions, the site, while maintaining a ‘helicopter’ vision over proceedings.
The Red Arrows were the star attraction of the Weston Air Festival, appearing on both days, performing their own unique tribute to the Royal Air Force, which celebrates its Centenary this year.
The raw power of the RAF Typhoon also made sure the huge crowds who packed the seafront saw some great action, with Team Raven, Autogyro, Mustang, Gazelle Team, Strikemaster and many more performing their routines over the town’s famous beachfront.
Adding to the importance of the event, the weekend also featured Weston-super-Mare’s annual Armed Forces Day celebrations, with parades and military displays on the town’s Beach Lawns.
Weston Air Festival joins a lengthy list of major events that have been supported by REM, including the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Bristol Harbour Festival, Tour of Britain, Tall Ships Liverpool, the arrival of HMS Queen Mary into Portsmouth in 2017 and the 175thanniversary celebration of the Cunard Line sailings from Merseyside.
Managing Director Ben Hardy said:
“Although the Weston Air Festival has been running for many years, we approached it as a totally new event, bringing a fresh approach to all aspects of the management of the weekend.
“It’s a magnificent show and a great place-making activity for Weston and we were pleased to be able to play our part in what was a brilliant weekend with huge crowds, some amazing air displays and a safe and well-run festival.”
Author: Adam Parry
Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.
