Last updated 06:51, Friday, 25 July 2008

COCKERMOUTH’S Allerdale Court Hotel has been fully booked out on Sunday night by Jools Holland.

The musician and his 18-piece band, ex-Soft Cell singer Marc Almond and others, are headlining at the Maryport Blues Festival on Sunday night and have chosen to stay in Cockermouth.

Owner John Carlin said the musician booked the hotel’s 21 rooms.

“We are always busy for the blues festival. I think everyone benefits from it. We have people booked in for the rest of the weekend too,” he said.

Mr Carlin said Jools Holland had given a list of requirements but he said there was nothing out of the ordinary and declined to reveal exactly what, but added: “It was nothing more than you would expect from any guest.”

He said he understood that the artists would be eating at Maryport. He added: “But we will have the bar open for them on their return to Cockermouth.”

It is estimated that between £3.5 million and £5.2m will be pumped into the West Cumbrian economy as a result of the blues festival, which starts tonight.

Organisers were only granted the festival licence on Wednesday, when they got verbal confirmation from Allerdale council after an objection was withdrawn.

Dave Park, chairman of Maryport Festivals, said the festival will attract up to 35,000 people, each spending about £150.

Town businesses are embracing the weekend, especially after a year of economic blues.

Every hotel and bed and breakfast in the town and in the area is booked solidly for the weekend and most are already booking up for next year.

Pubs are preparing for the onslaught and local businesses are waiting to reap some of their share of the economic benefits of all these visitors to town.

In Maryport, Sailors Return licensee Moree Weir said her only criticism was that the festival was not held two or three times a year.

She said: “It is important to us and to the town. I don’t think we could live without it now. Everybody is going through a difficult period now and we need the festival.”

Joe Rotheray, owner of the Shore Walk bed and breakfast, said it was the best thing that had ever happened to the town.

Most of the Maryport pubs will have blues bands playing over the whole weekend and the trail has become as important a part of the festival as the main marquee.

This is the 10th anniversary and Maryport Festivals has blown the budget to make it huge. The bill for the artists has topped £100,000.

Most acts are staying overnight but rock ‘n’ roll legend Chuck Berry, headlining on Friday night, will not be staying. He will arrive in a Mercedes for his performance and is expected to leave soon after. The majority of acts will stay at the Washington Central Hotel in Workington.

Jimmie Vaughan, considered one of the best blues guitarists in the world, is gigging in the United States and is flying directly from Texas for what is his only British concert.

He has decided to take a short break, however, and will be staying in the Lake District for a couple of days after his Saturday night appearance.

Thirty people have spent a week erecting a marquee in Netherhall Rugby Club’s ground. The venue will seat 2,500 in the concert area.

There are still some tickets and trail wristbands available. Call 01900 817200. Some tickets will also be available at the marquee during the weekend.