Large numbers of music fans and feedback from businesses have been welcomed as the key indicators of another successful Hull Trinity Festival.

The event, the last major city centre festival of the summer, attracted around 8,000 people to enjoy two days of free live music by top national and local bands in Zebedee’s Yard.

Licensees who supported the event directly said the festival was brilliant for business, with one operator now exploring the market for other outdoor events on the strength of their Hull Trinity Festival success.

The event featured national headline bands the Hoosiers and Clean Cut Kid, supported by some of the finest bands from the Hull area as selected by music project leaders at The Warren.

Sponsorship from Oscars Bar in Silver Street as well as revenue from other bar and food outlets which took concessions in Zebedee’s Yard enabled the HullBID team to once again provide the entertainment free of charge.

Jan Strickland, co-owner of Oscars, said the attraction went beyond the obvious benefit of selling out of some products.

She said: “It’s the second year we have sponsored Hull Trinity Festival and we were also involved in the Yum! Festival this year as well.

“We do it because we like to support the Old Town, we think people should work together and we like to support HullBID whenever we can. It’s also good promotion for Oscars.

“We’re really excited about everything that’s happening in the city centre. Some people are very negative but the public realm work is progressing, the Fruit Market development is bringing more people into the city centre and City of Culture will be amazing. Now we need people to work together with events like Trinity Festival to take the city forward.”

Mark Bayston revealed that he started in the food and beverage sector by operating portable bars before opening McCoys in Princes Dock Street, Hull, 16 years ago. He resurrected the idea on a small scale during this summer’s Amy Johnson Festival and he increased the presence for Hull Trinity Festival.

Mark said: “We’ve noticed an increase in trade during Hull Trinity Festival in previous years and this year we were fully involved. Business in the restaurant was up by about 50 per cent on the Saturday and, while the Sunday was about the same as normal, the activity in Zebedee’s Yard was unbelievable.

“We started years ago by operating bars at places like Hessle Town Hall, Cottingham Civic Hall and the Circle cricket ground. It is hard work going mobile but we got our offer spot-on and because we were so close to the restaurant we were able to re-stock easily. We also got the message across that we do have a full bar in the restaurant, and we might do more events in the future.”

Catherine Goble, HullBID’s marketing and events co-ordinator, said: “Hull Trinity Festival was a great success in every sense. The bands were really pleased with the way it went and so were the businesses, including The Warren.

“The capacity was 3,500 with standing at the front and the picnic tables at the back and that was a good combination with people enjoying the music, the food and the drink. We estimate the crowd over the two days was around 8,000 and that generated businesses for bars and restaurants elsewhere in the city. 

The site worked really well as a venue and we’re very grateful to Trinity House Charity for the use of the facility. It gave us the chance to offer different types of opportunities for local businesses, and they showed what can be achieved by working together.”