Pictures: Crowds flock to expanded Torquay festival in support of RNLI

Images: Shot by Rob, shotbyrob.com

A popular Torquay festival, held to raise money for the area’s lifeboat service, returned last weekend with an expanded programme and a new location.

The Offshore and Bays Festival, which supports the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, received additional backing this year from Torbay Council's events team and the English Riviera BID Company.

Following the success of the 2023 event, which raised £1,100 for the RNLI, organisers moved the main stage and event site to the Banjo area of Princess Gardens, allowing for a larger setup and greater visitor capacity.

The new site offered a bigger stage, expanded bar facilities and a wider selection of food and drink stalls.

Live music was provided by several local bands, including The Out of Tunas, Yonder Folk, Mafia 4, The Oo-De-Lallys, Harbour UK and New Daze. Despite initial concerns about the rain, the weather held strong with visitors able to enjoy sunshine from deckchairs positioned around the main stage.

A raffle in support of RNLI Torbay offered a selection of prizes, while the drinks line-up included locally produced options from Bays Brewery, which ran the main bar. Offshore operated a prosecco and spritz bar, sponsored by Tolchards, featuring a selection of world beers, ciders, spirits and soft drinks from Luscombe.

One attendee wrote on Facebook: “We had such an amazing day; thank you for putting on this event! Hopefully it’ll happen again soon, and we can raise more money for the deserving RNLI.”

Ahead of the festival, Carolyn Custerson, chief executive of the ERBID, had said: “We’re extremely proud to get behind this event. Brett [Offshore] and Pete [Bays Brewery] have proved over the years that they care greatly about their community. We think this is an opportunity to give locals and visitors a quality event that celebrates the amazing food, drinks and musicians we have on offer in the English Riviera.”

Peter Salmon, director of Bays Brewery, said: “Offshore and Bays Fest 2025 was a fantastic success — we couldn’t have asked for a better day. The sun was shining, the beers were flowing and the new location at the Banjo was absolutely perfect, set against the stunning backdrop of Torquay harbour. It was brilliant to see so many people enjoying the live music and local food and supporting the vital work of the RNLI. A huge thank-you to everyone who came along and made it such a special event.” 

Event organiser Brett Morton from Offshore said: “We’re really proud of how our little festival has grown over the years and how generous our customers are when it comes to supporting our local charities. 

“As Offshore's food and drinks menus have evolved to offer more and more local produce, the festival has become a celebration of our brilliant local suppliers and a way to give something back to the local community before the summer season really begins.”