Back on the big stage – Rochdale’s Flyer backs festival

Left to right: Patricia Boothman from The Flying Horse, Councillor Sue Smith, director Jon Hudson and The Flying Horse assistant manager Emma Whitworth

Multi award-winning local business The Flying Horse Hotel have renewed their support of Rochdale Feel Good Festival, sponsoring the main stage of this summer’s event.

With Saturday 10 August fast approaching, the Packer Street venue is preparing for its busiest weekend of the year and in the coming weeks they’ll also be running warm-up events.

Director Jon Hudson said: “We’re very excited about this year’s festival, particularly as the main stage returns to outside our front door on the town hall square, and we’re proud to be supporting such a vibrant event that we have a long association with. It’s a lot of hard work but an incredible event to be part of, an amazing event for our customers and a big positive for the area. The buzz that the festival creates started many months ago and the response to this year’s line-up so far has been fantastic.”

Awarded the accolade of Greater Manchester Pub of the Year 2019 and 2018 by CAMRA, the Flying Horse was named CAMRA Rochdale, Oldham and Bury Branch pub of the year earlier this year, a title they’ve won for the ninth year running.

As well as trading at the festival, The Flying Horse will run an indoor stage during the weekend and host the official after show party following Ocean Colour Scene’s headline set on the Saturday night.

Rochdale Feel Good Festival will feature a showcase of top class entertainment. Headliners Ocean Colour Scene, Lottery Winners and Heather Small - the voice of M People, will be joined by soul, pop and funk artist Toucan, DJ Dave Sweetmore a local battle of the bands winner and many more, a full programme of entertainment across indoor venues to be announced plus quality food and drink.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council visited The Flying Horse this week to meet some of the team and thank them for their support: “We are pleased to have teamed up again with The Flying Horse Hotel as the festival returns and are looking forward to working with them. It’s great to be working with another home-grown Rochdale success story, a big champion of live music and we are grateful for the support.  It’s thanks to businesses who invest in the festival and everyone who buys a ticket that we can deliver this big event and our biggest line-up yet for our return to the town hall after five years away. The Flying Horse has supported this festival from the start and we’re all looking forward to August.”

For the first time, to cut single use plastic, all tickets include a Rochdale Feel Good Festival re-usable drink cup to be collected upon arrival at the festival site.

The festival is funded by the council together with ticket sales and sponsorship from The Flying Horse Hotel, Premier Kia, The Royal Toby Hotel, Transport for Greater Manchester, BRSK full fibre broadband and other local businesses.