Bideford Folk Festival is happy to have Brend Hotels, Royal Hotel as sponsor of The Opening Concert

The Warmest of West Country Welcomes is extended from the Brend Family , owners of Devon and Cornwall 's leading hotel group. Brend Hotels has all that Devon and Cornwall has to offer with 11 Luxury Hotels, situated in some of the finest locations with friendly attentive service and a commitment to the highest standards of comfort and cuisine in each. You'll find information on all of our hotels on our website www.brend-hotels.co.uk , whether it's a last minute deal, Christmas or winter break or a luxury summer holiday the Virtual Tour and Wed Cam facilities allows you to get a first-hand taste of each hotel.

The nearest of our nine luxury Devon Hotels to the Bideford Folk Festival are the six hotels here in North Devon . The nearest, the Royal Hotel, overlooking the River Torridge and the historic maritime town of Bideford will make an ideal base for the festival and exploring Devon and Cornwall.

Barnstaple a short drive from Bideford has four of our luxury hotels, all situated in or around this award winning floral town. Barnstaple 's only four-star hotel, The Imperial, has a fine location overlooking The River Taw and Barnstaple 's famous clock tower and only a two-minute walk to the shops. The Park Hotel as the name suggests, overlooks the lovely Rock Park and The River Taw and again only a five-minute walk from the town centre.

The Barnstaple Hotel with its extensive leisure facilities including indoor and outdoor swimming pools is located on the outskirts of Barnstaple and is only a ten / fifteen minute drive from some of North Devon's famous beaches. The Royal and Fortescue Hotel is situated in the heart of Barnstaple's town centre, step out of the front door and enjoy all of Barnstaple's shops and restaurants including our own Café Bar Bistro, 62 The Bank, right next door.

The Saunton Sands Hotel, at Saunton has arguably one of the best views in Britain , overlooking five miles of golden sands and surf, with wonderful sunsets.

You can find out about our other luxury hotels in Devon and Cornwall by looking on our website:

www.brend-hotels.co.uk Tel. Brend Hotel Travel Centre 01271-344496

The Opening Concert: 7.30-10.30pm at Bideford Methodist Church, High Street.

The concert will be a varied evening of music, song and mirth, featuring local and national performers. For your entertainment we have; Nick Wyke & Becki Driscoll, two young and energetic fiddlers, who appear at Folk Festivals and Folk Clubs all over the country as well as teaching young musicians. Bloatertown Band one of the top West Country Dance bands who will be giving us a glimpse of the other side of their repertoire. Dose of Salts, a local Shanty Side, with a wealth of songs for every occasion. Judy Brock who plays exquisitely on the harp made by her husband. Michael a folk club favourite who keeps us in fits of laughter with his songs and recitations and Jongleurs a local folk choir.