Bringing the beach to Newark

This summer, from 6 to 21 August, Newark Market Place will be transformed into an urban beach which will be open free of charge every day from 10am to 4pm.

The large beach area will be adorned with deck chairs, buckets and spades, beach huts, a tiki bar, street food, the sound of waves and with lots of ice cream available, the seaside really is coming to you! There will be a huge programme of daily activity which will include sand castle competitions, local bands, sea side shows, face painting and much more.

The beach is being provided as part of the Cultural Heart of Newark (CHN) project which is one of nine projects identified within the Town Investment Plan being progressed by the Newark Towns Fund Board.

Following a consultation exercise, more than 80% of respondents thought that more events would have the greatest positive impact on the town centre. The CHN project aims to provide a diverse annual programme of events and activity in the Town Centre to help increase vibrancy to support growth in footfall, dwell time and consumer spending on retail, hospitality and services in the town centre.  The beach is just one of many exciting new events planned for the town centre and it is being delivered by Newark Town Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Ian Harrison of Newark Town Council said:

“This project enables us to continue with and improve the provision of music and street entertainment in and around the Market Place and town centre; building on what we started to provide in 2021 to help encourage people back into our beautiful town centre following the pandemic lock-downs.

“People’s shopping habits have changed and nationally all town centres have been affected by the increased use of on-line shopping etc. Data from the footfall counters in the town centre have reinforced our belief that events and entertainment encourage people to return to the town centre, to dwell longer and to visit our local shops and hospitality.

“Newark On Sea” will be the first significant event of the project.  We especially want to attract young families back into the town centre and we hope that this initiative will help to do that.

“Importantly, at this time of pressures on household budgets, the beach and entertainment will be free to all and we hope many families both from the Newark area and beyond will make a visit and enjoy some seaside atmosphere in what I am sure is one of the most beautiful market places in the UK.

“As the project is developed, we will soon be able to announce further regular initiatives and activity in addition to our annual events such as the Book Festival and the Traditions festival taking place this month.

“Sometimes perhaps, we have a tendency to take for granted just what a beautiful town Newark is and dwell on the negatives. Our aim is to reinforce the positives, build back civic pride and enable Newark town centre to once again become a thriving place of destination.”

Councillor David Lloyd, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council and Co-Chair of Newark Towns Fund Board said, “When you thought you’d seen it all, we thought we’d bring the seaside to you!  And what a great summer attraction it will be.  It will be lovely to see the joy on the faces of young and old alike as they enjoy the programme of activity on the beach.  We are committed to ensuring that we encourage as many people into our local town centres as possible and events, such as this, are a brilliant way to help the local economy recover after the pandemic.”

Further information about this event will be available on the districts events calendar at www.whatson.visitnewark.co.uk/whats-on