Step back in time with Wayne Hemingway

Morecambe born and raised fashion designer Wayne Hemingway returns to his roots with Vintage by the Sea celebrating the best of British music, fashion, film, art, design and food at The Midland.

The Midland, which is a Grade II listed heritage building, is celebrating the 80th anniversary since its opening in 1933, with an all-day event covering vintage periods from the 1920s to the 1980s.

He said: “I brought this here because Morecambe has always retained a vintage beauty to me.

“I’m happy to see that my home town has made 
substantial ground on 
tackling the social issues that a lot of seaside towns have.

“I really think it has turned a corner, and no longer looks like it’s full of tat and it is still retaining those uplifting 
beautiful views.”

Born in Morecambe in 1961, Wayne co-founded Red or Dead fashion label with childhood sweetheart and now wife, Geraldine.

Together they have gone on to create the concept of Vintage by the Sea to the hotel widely recognised as a 1930s art deco masterpiece.

“Geraldine and I created the Vintage Festival Concept and through the HemingwayDesign team we developed the concept of a touring festival which would celebrate British creativity.

“We initially began in 2010 at Sussex Downs where over 50,000 people came, and we thought we could put something unique into the gap in the summer festival calendar.”

The event asks people to come dressed up in their 
favourite vintage period and fit right in among the 
serendipitous classic 
vehicles, street food and pop up performances.

“My mum, who’s from Garstang, is coming dressed up as well as the rest of the family from Lancaster.

“I think it’ll be seriously good fun, we always get a 
better reaction up north than down south.

“I’m a Lancashire lad so I know that we love to have good fun, dress up and have a party!

“We had a great reaction to the Preston Guild last year, and we hope to build on that success bringing back The Torch Club and Soul Casino that did so well then.”

The two-day Guild event in September 1 last year was well received in Lancashire, 
spurring hundreds of 
volunteers and a crack 
creative team to celebrate an iconic cultural legacy.

“All the team that worked with HemingwayDesign team at the Preston Guild are joining us in Morecambe, it’s great to carry that on locally.

“They’re an amazing local team and we’ve got people all over Lancashire chipping in, like Elena Gifford the course leader in Fashion Entrepreneurship at UCLan.”

Other events at The Midland this year include shopping at the Vintage Marketplace, a pop-up food festival and carousel at the Vintage Playground, dance instruction to periodic music at Vintage Tea by the Sea, and rocking out to the best of 1950s rock music at Rock n Roll at the Rotunda.

The Vintage Salon will also provide hair and beauty makeovers ranging from the styles of the 1920s to the 1970s, with hair ‘up-do’s’ costing £14 and makeovers costing £10.

The Torch Club, an evening of 1930s and 1940s entertainment has sold out along with Vintage Tea by the Sea, a tea dance to periodic DJ Okay For Sound.

“The only tickets remaining are for the Soul Casino, but there’s plenty for everyone else to join in with the workshops, salon and marketplace.”

Wayne will be DJ for the casino night event, which will recreate the sounds and style of the 1970s soul club and 80s disco scene at the Winter 
Gardens from 9pm to 2am.

The event commences on September 14 before moving to Darlington for the Festival of Thrift on September 21.

Prices start at £12.50 for Soul Casino and Wayne stresses that booking is essential to retain a ticket.

For more information or to book tickets visit www.vintagefestival.co.uk or call 08458 501240.