More beach fun for town centre as Newark-on-Sea returns in August

Between Friday 4 August and Sunday 13 August, Newark Market Place will be transformed into an urban beach which will be open free of charge everyday from 10am until 4pm.

As with last year’s beach, there will be a huge programme of daily activities the whole family will enjoy which includes live music from local artists, theatre shows, story readings, Punch and Judy and giant seagulls!

For those just wanting a few minutes of relaxation, the beach has you sorted. Relax on a deck chair and listen to live local music while you refuel with some delicious ice cream or street food, all within a stone’s throw of Newark’s amazing independent stores.

Last year over 3,000 adults and children attended the beach bringing a hive of activity to the town centre of Newark.

Leader of Newark Town Council, Neil Ross said: “Newark has seen a series of fantastic events over the summer. We have just bid farewell to the Book Festival for another year, the Sunday band concerts will continue in the Castle Grounds until the end of August, and we still have Newark Festival to look forward to.

“Now we can announce that from 4 until 13 August we will have Newark-on-Sea in the Royal Market area. The seaside will be brought to you, right in the heart of Newark. This is a great festival for families, for children, for local people, and for visitors. A place to enjoy some sunshine, meet friends, play in the sand, sit in a deckchair, and to visit our incredible cafes and shops.  All in our beautiful town centre.”

Matt Lamb, Director of Planning and Growth at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “This was a great summer attraction last year and it’s great to see it back. The town centre was a hive of activity, and it brought a real energy to the town centre. We also had the bonus of fantastic weather.

“We are committed to working with others to 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 to grow.”

Tom Cartledge, Co-Chair of the Newark Town Board, said: “Last year was a tremendous success and it’s fantastic we can welcome the beach to Newark once again. By holding events like this we’re bringing people to our town centre not just from Newark but from surrounding areas as well, showcasing what a wonderful place we are and the potential we have. 

“This event is part of the Newark Cultural Heart project; one of nine priority projects being funded by our successful bid to the Government's Towns Fund and Levelling Up Fund initiatives aimed at transforming Newark into a destination for tourists and visitors.”

Also, returning for a second year, is the Newark Town Centre Races which will be back in the town centre on Friday 28 July. Newark and Sherwood District Council is again working alongside Generation Pro Cycling Events to deliver a summer evening of fast paced cycle racing. The race will feature some of the country’s best road cyclists as they race on a mixture of surfaces providing all riders with an exciting challenge on this twisty, technical, and fast circuit.

The celebration of cycling and community events will not end there following the news that the Tour of Britain will be coming to the District this September, starting at Sherwood Forest and finishing in Newark.

For more information on Newark-on-Sea and for a list of daily activities throughout the event, go to: www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/newarkonsea

A full list of events coming to the town can be seen on the Visit Events website: https://visitevents.co.uk/events/