Salt and Tar Music Weekender boosts local economy by £1 million

Salt & Tar Music Weekender gave Bootle’s local economy a boost approaching £1 million.

Independent evaluation by North West Research Showed that the four-day event August generated £980,928* for the area.

Featuring headliners Billy Ocean, The K’s, Ocean Colour Scene and Sugababes, the Festival attracted over 10,000 visitors, 97% of whom stated the event was their main reason for visiting the town.

Attendees travelled from across the Liverpool City Region and beyond, with 24% coming from outside Sefton and the Liverpool City Region, bringing new spending into the local economy.

The festival also drove an increase in public transport use with a clear rise in sales of single and return tickets to Bootle. Over the course of the weekend, the town saw 3.6 times the number of journeys compared to a typical Thursday to Sunday, with approximately 2,000 extra journeys recorded.

According to the research, Festival visitors spent a total of £732,036. On average, Sefton residents spent £73.10, day visitors spent £82.26 and overnight visitors spent £176.31

The Salt & Tar Music Festival also delivered strong social and cultural benefits, with 95% of attendees likely to recommend the event and 68% saying it exceeded expectations. Standout performances from all the artists helped cement Salt & Tar as a highlight in the region’s cultural calendar.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Skills and Employment, said:

“Salt & Tar is a brilliant asset for Bootle and a catalyst for the town’s regeneration.

“This year’s event brought world-class entertainment to our community but also delivered a significant economic boost for local businesses.

“The fact that nearly £1 million has been injected into the local economy demonstrates the power of cultural events to drive growth, create opportunities and put Bootle firmly on the map as a destination for arts and culture.

“We are committed to building on this success and ensuring that Salt & Tar continues to play a central role in the town’s transformation.”