BOURNEMOUTH’S Arts By The Sea festival is already making plans for a return next year after its “overwhelming success”.

Organisers hope to stage another after putting on 74 events from September until mid-October.

They said visitors planned holidays around the festival and most of the events were sold out.

Holidaymakers tried to book into the Electric Hotel, a cutaway mock building that hosted a play near the Pavilion – and residents complained about how it got planning permission.

This year’s festival received £150,000 from the council’s Gateway Board and £100,000 from the Arts Council. The plan is to attract more business sponsorship next year.

The festival was developed after an initial suggestion from Cllr Ian Lancashire, now cabinet member for arts and culture. He said it was an “overwhelming success”.

“This year it was a case of persuading people to take part. It was completely new,” he said. “Now people are coming to us.”

He said the festival was intended as an annual event and the “indications are we will be supported and the council will make it a priority”.

The events were held around the town centre and the organising team said they gave a major boost to existing business.

The organiser of a Robert Louis Stevenson walk that normally attracts 20 people saw 120 turn up.

Kerry Curtis, the marketing officer, said: “Flirt Cafe under the Library was nearer some of the Light Night events and they said takings were up by 100 per cent.”

Bournemouth has been criticised in the past for lacking cultural events. Cllr Lancashire said: “Unless we provide cultural attractions, then you can’t knock youngsters for going out and drinking.”

He had an email from one satisfied customer which read: “I have previously lived in London, Manchester and Brighton and sometimes find it a bit of a cultural wasteland in Bournemouth but not the last few weeks!

“I usually have to go to London for my cultural fix but this time I have been able to spend my money in Bournemouth.”