Crowds soak up Malvern Well Dressing and Water Festival

The Well Dressing and Water Festival returned to Malvern over the bank holiday weekend.

More than 50 wells in the area were given the royal treatment to tie in with this year’s theme - Kings and Queens.

Then on Bank Holiday Monday (May 1) hundreds visited Priory Park to enjoy the festivities.

Speaking ahead of the occasion, organiser Rick Banbury said: “The theme ‘Kings and Queens’ has obviously given a nod to the Coronation, which will no doubt be the largest public event this year; and of course, we had the Queen’s funeral last year.

“But what a glorious nod this is! Phil Ironside, who suggested it, excited us with a surprisingly wide variety of possible interpretations of the theme, ranging from current to historical, from Greek literature to fairy tales, from rock and roll legends to pantomime icons – this ‘nod’ is in fact very broad.”

Food, as ever, proved to be popular, with long lines for the likes of The Beefy Boys and Smokey Dough Pizza.

“Brill day with a great team,” said a member of staff from Smokey Dough.

It was also a successful day for Three Bears Bakery, which sold out just hours into the day.

Owner Nicky Riley said: "What a day!

"Thanks so much to everyone who queued so patiently today, we’ve never seen anything like it!

"And so sorry for the 1.30 pm sell-out, we absolutely did not expect that!"

Three Bears Bakery sold out just hours into the day (Image: Malvern Hills District Council)

Aside from food, there was plenty of entertainment and activities for visitors to get stuck into. 

Youngsters could try their hand at circus skills, get creative with clay, or battle it out on inflatable bumper cars.

The bandstand hosted several local musicians, including The Three Disagrees and the Malvern Samba Band.

Not wanting to forget what the day was all about, guests could also watch a re-enactment of a Victorian water cure in which one unfortunate 'patient' was soaked in freezing cold water from the wells.