Following the introduction of tiered seating, there was another major improvement in 2009 - the addition of a large bar and waiting area to the south. The whole marquee came from a different company - and it showed!

However, the bar area was grossly under-utilised and (if a feature of the site in 2010) could serve many additional purposes including ticket collection.

The seats used in the Ham are a vast improvement on earlier years. The tiered rear rows have been particularly well received. Total seating capacity is 1050.

The overall size of the marquee in 2009 was 25m by 50m with the actual seating areas occupying 25m by 29m (including walkways). The glazed bar area to the south had a raised floor of 10m by 25m - larger than either of the main dance floors (Blackmore and Bulverton) - and it was flat too!

Now that could give serious ceilidh dancers a few ideas.....

Walkways were placed to help prevent mud being transported into the venue. These worked very well.

The Task Force of volunteers and contractors had their hands full coping with the mud and associated problems - but as always they managed, sometimes despite protests from Health and Safety staff.

A number of 'festival' food outlets served customers - those in town centre shops did a good trade as well.

'Speciality' food outlets are what many people expect from a festival - witness the choice of exotic foods available at many events. Sidmouth is gradually learning that not everyone wants to buy sandwiches or chips in town - although those on offer in some shops were very good!

In a recession, buying event  tickets may be enough of a trial - extra and largely unnecessary expenditure on T shirts and the like may be unrealistic.

Unfortunately it was one of the parts of the festival I didn't get to explore.

To 'do' Sidmouth FolkWeek would take about a month - so maybe it should run for a fortnight with the second week being a 'winding down' experience!

In conditions such as this you could almost forget the mud on the campsite (especially if you was going home to a nice warm bed!).

There remains only one central question - in a life that is so short, and with all the world to admire, can you afford NOT to do the Sidmouth festival, at least once?

These were the same types as worked so well in Blackmore Gardens.

This main footway can be seen clearly in the last but one photograph on this webpage.

There was some paddling into place on the wettest days, but after that you could sit comfortably.

These 'fixed' seats were probably easier to evacuate in a fire than the older 'lashed together' type used in previous years - not that a fire was likely with all this water around.

But then there was all the alcohol - highly inflammable...

One of the problems here was apparently the highly flammable upholstery in chairs - no doubt packed together at high density.

The venue apparently did not meet local regulations.

A few folk festival concert venues are larger but none are within a few moments walk of the sea at Sidmouth - and a leisurely stroll back to an expensive hotel, for those able to afford such luxuries!

Trust the Germans - first on the beach and they make probably the best marquees in the world too.

read all about them

and see the picture below!

It is a good idea to tape electrical connectors above ground level - even though they are supposed to be waterproof.

A join in one of the major power feeds has been positioned directly below a water point.

One of the water couplings could have ruptured or been torn away, soaking the whole area.

The area of grass that was covered by the wooden floor of the Ham bar had turned yellow - but took only a day to regain some green.

There are many people in Sidmouth who prefer it this way.