WITH dance music from top DJs, cocktails and great food, plus a sunset to match, you would have been forgiven for mistaking Helensburgh’s seafront on Saturday for Ibiza.

The Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre on East Clyde Street was temporarily transformed into Café Mambo as the Beats and Eats weekend festival took over the town.

It’s the first time the event has been held at the site and while the weather on Sunday forced the party to move indoors, the sold-out occasion was a huge success.

Street food, market and craft stalls and kids activities provided the attractions during the day, and the evening’s entertainment drew in the crowds to hear tunes from Ian ‘Boney’ Clark and Harri.

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There was even a special appearance from The Voice Kids stars Ava MacFarlane and Alfie King, both from Alexandria.

After the last of the revellers had left the scene, Lynne Donnelly, from organisers SHS Events, told the Advertiser: “It was a great event, especially the Saturday.

“The venue was ideal and with the weather being so nice it gave the holiday vibe we were looking for.

“I was running about crazy the whole weekend but some of the comments we got from people were that they felt like they were in Ibiza and at Café Mambo.

“The weather didn’t play ball on Sunday but it didn’t dampen anything, we just moved the party inside.

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“One guy said ‘thank god someone has dragged Helensburgh into the 21st century’.

“Ian (DJ) had the place bouncing. He’s a big name and he brought his own followers with him.

“About 60-65 per cent of the people there were local, but a lot came from all over, places like Aberdeen, Johnstone, Balloch, some put on buses to take them there and back.

“The weather just made it. We had that festival-style vibe, we went for the bean bags to give it a nice chilled-out feel and we didn’t want to hide the views that Helensburgh has along the seafront.”

Lynne said around 3,000 people attended over the two days, with positive feedback coming from all.

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She added: “It was a long time planning and a lot of work, but the demand from the public to bring it back has been huge.

“So many people said they rarely come to Helensburgh but they came for this and ended up making a full day out of it, going around the shops in the town and going out afterwards, the owner of the Argyll Bar was probably counting his lucky stars afterwards, it was packed wall to wall.

“Some people said it was the best thing to happen to Helensburgh in a long while so it’s all been positive feedback.

“We’ll sit down and speak to those at the Civic Centre in a couple of weeks, I would be happy to work with them again, there was no trouble and no issues at all.

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“Thanks to the people of Helensburgh for getting behind the event from the very beginning and for making it so great.

“We came out of nowhere and put this on and we were sold out both nights with people still turning up on the day looking to get in.”