Visitors to Fringe by the Sea rose by nearly a third this year as organisers toasted the “most successful” ever edition of the festival.

The figures come from the festival’s economic impact report that detailed the “major financial boost” the increase in visitors created for North Berwick and East Lothian in general.

The 10-day event took place in August and brought international stars such as Travis, Sister Sledge and Dylan Moran to North Berwick.

The report, carried out by MKA Economics, showed that the net additional impact of visitor spend during the 10 days of the festival was in the region of £7,313,884 – a 14 per cent increase on 2022.

It attracted a total number of 74,750 visitors, 31 per cent up on 2022 – continuing the growth pattern that has seen a boost every single year since its debut in 2008.

The report also states that 2023 can be seen to have been another success in attracting a significant number of people from outside East Lothian.

There was an uplift in the number of people travelling into East Lothian, with more people from elsewhere in Scotland, the UK and overseas attending.

Overall, in terms of event ratings, the 2023 event scored considerably higher in terms of the number of people claiming it to be ‘Excellent’ (66 per cent, compared to 64 per cent in 2022) and rating it as ‘Ten out of Ten’ (50 per cent, compared to 47 per cent in 2022).

This rating has helped in encouraging more visitors to consider re-attending in future, with 91 per cent indicating that they would ‘definitely’ attend future events.

Fringe by the Sea recently won Outstanding Cultural Event/Festival at the Thistle Awards (Edinburgh & East) and is now shortlisted for the national award.

The festival is also in the running for a 2023 UK Festival Award for Best Small Festival.

Some of this year’s most popular shows were Sister Sledge, Travis, Dara Ó Briain, Groove Armada, Dylan Moran, Giles & Mary (Gogglebox), Patrick Grant (Sewing Bee) and Strictly winner Hamza Yassin.

Preparations for next year’s festival, to be held from August 2 to 11, are already under way with the first acts to be announced in the next few months.

Rory Steel, Fringe by the Sea director, said: “We’ve had another record year of numbers, but the impact of the festival on the local economy is one of the most pleasing, along with the huge emotional uplift the event gives locals and visitors alike.

“The support we receive from our volunteers, local residents, commercial partners, East Lothian Council and, above all, ticket buyers, is enormously motivating for the Fringe by the Sea team.

“We’re busy planning for 2024, so watch this space for exciting news soon.”