Some of the SSFC Team before the gates opened

Rosiefest 2026 is officially a wrap, with local band Two Metres Apart bringing the curtain down on the latest edition of the festival hosted by South Shields FC Foundation at Harton and Westoe Miners Welfare. 

The Foundation was keen to offer the festival a new home 6 years ago following the closure and subsequent demolition of the Holborn Rose and Crown, who's name the festival still bears. 

Harton Welfare was once again transformed this year by the team behind the scenes to make it a safe and well-organised event to bring people together. 

Foundation GM Steve Camm said:

"Bringing people together to make new friends is a central strand of the Foundation's work in the Community.  So, when Natalie Lascelles asked for our help to host the first event six years ago it was a no-brainer for us."

"I want to pay tribute to my team and MBS Security for their tireless work in planning, setting up the site, executing service and dealing with the massive post event clear up and knock down.

There are so many moving parts to be managed over and above the fantastic work Natalie does to promote and pull the entertainment/activities side of the event together."

In the last five years more than 10,000 people have now attended Rosiefest at Harton & Westoe Miners Welfare and when the final numbers come in for this year the cumulative total is expected to pass the £75,000 raised for charity through ticket sales across the five events. 

The Foundation is the charitable arm of South Shields FC and was set up in 2017 to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community.

It does that by delivering activities that support mental health and wellbeing including healthy activities, opportunities to make new friends, volunteering and charitable giving, taking notice of what is happening around you and learning new skills.

This year the Foundation contributed £15,000 to the delivery costs of Rosiefest 2026, ensuring that ticket sales can be protected for distribution to charities. 

Since 2017 the Foundation's wider work has delivered more than £40million in social impact for people living in South Tyneside.