The response to Falmouth’s Tall Ships Regatta from local businesses has been overwhelmingly positive, even if many had to work extra hard to keep up with extra demand.

Business owners have praised the event’s organisers and volunteers for ensuring that the four day event was enjoyed by visitors and tourists alike, with many saying Falmouth was the busiest they had ever seen it.

Wendy Byrne, who runs Tickle Yer Tastebuds pasty company on Bickland Water Road, said she made around 1,000 of the tasty treats for the event.

Wendy, who doesn’t have any help making the pasties, said: “It was absolutely manic from about Thursday afternoon through to Saturday.

“It’s just kind of a blur, I just got down and got on with it.

“Most of them were for my customers any way, they had family and friends down, or they wanted them frozen so they could cook them on their boats.

“Then some were for charter companies taking people out to the boats, some only wanted my pasties, no-one elses.”

She added: “It was good for Falmouth as a whole, I believe it was really busy down there.

“It was good for me, the only downside is I never got to see it. I would have liked to but it wasn’t meant to be.”

Peter Fraser, owner of Harbour Lights chip shop, said it was the busiest he’s ever seen it in 14 years.

He said: “Normally Red Arrows day is our busiest day, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the Tall Ships all exceeded that in terms of trade, with Saturday going ballistic. It was off the scale.

“The town put on a great show and the businesses have benefited greatly from all the visitors.”

Peter said because of the town centre road closures the company had to plan its stock very carefully, and thanked his staff who worked extra shifts and long hours.

He added: “The town did very well thanks to the organisers and volunteers, I owe a lot of fish and chips to them.”

Shaun Davie, chairman of the Falmouth and District Hotels Association, said: “I can’t praise the town highly enough, it’s been great for Falmouth. As far as I’m aware all the accommodation providers have been fully booked.

“The Tall Ships really helps to put Falmouth on the map and it’s the knock on effect that counts. All the guests that stayed have gone back home with fond memories and told family and friends about Falmouth.”

He thanked John Hick from Falmouth Tall Ships and Sam Groom from Visit Cornwall, as well as town manager Richard Gates and BID manager Richard Wilcox for “working tirelessly over months and years”, as well as A&P Falmouth who “gave up a hell of a lot” to provide space for the tall ships and the tens of thousands of visitors who flocked to see them.

Church Street cake shop Annie’s Kitchen benefited greatly from the extra visitors to Falmouth, with owner Sarah Slater saying she saw a 300 per cent increase in trade.

She said: “We did really, really well. I think the whole event’s been run extremely well.

“We had all the cakes we sell out front on a stall, that drew people in to the shop which was busy as well, the pure volume of people was huge, and they all liked cake.

“It was busy for all of the four days, Sunday was quieter because they were all out on the front, but it was still busier than a normal Sunday.”

Pub Five Degrees West, near Events Square, hosted shanty singers all weekend, including several acts which later appeared on the main stage.

Manager John Newton said: “We broke all kinds of records that we had, just down to the amount of people. Everyone seemed really happy.

“It was great for the town to have so many people, I think Falmouth coped so well.”