Town 'strong contender' for major cultural award

A rural town of 4,000 people is throwing its hat in the ring to be the first ever UK Town of Culture.

Watchet, on the West Somerset Coast, belives it is "strong contender" to win the award, and will submit an expression of interest in the coming weeks in an effort to secure £60,000 to develop a full bid.

The government has invited towns to enter the new competition, which will run alongside the existing UK City of Culture contest. The winner will get £3m, with runners up receiving £250,000.

Asked whether Watchet has what it takes to go all the way, mayor, Loretta Whetlor said: "Unless you try, you never know. We're small town with a big heart."

The first Town of Culture title will be awarded for 2028, when the winning town will start a year-long programme of cultural celebrations.

Watchet already has a year-round cultural programme, centered around the harbour-front venue East Quay, as well as the Backyard Theatre, Phoenix Club and its various bars, pubs and restaurants.

Whetlor said the town would be coming together to support the Town of Culture bid.

"We're trying to reach out to organisations in the town to set up a working group and explore the award in more detail," she said, adding: "The town council is fully behind it".

The council said the bid would "strengthen pride and identity at a moment of transition", as well as "connect heritage, contemporary culture and social infrastructure".

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