Dartmouth regatta has come under fire for bringing in so many fast-food outlets and leaving local businesses out of pocket.

The number of food operations being drawn into the town during the regatta event has been growing every year, said Brian Yole, who runs the Singing Kettle teashop in Smith Street.

And it is beginning to affect his and other businesses in the town, he warned.

Brian, who runs the tea shop with his business partner Darren Morris, said there were more than 40 stalls selling food over the regatta period – all within a very small area of the town centre.

'In the seven years we have been in Dartmouth, we have never had an empty dining room but we did this year while people were queuing up in the Royal Avenue Gardens for food,' he said.

He said his teashop had opened in the evenings to make up for what it was losing during the day during the regatta.

Now he has suggested that the regatta organisers could cut out some of the flying displays and possibly the Thursday night fireworks display so that they can afford to do without the income from so many visiting food outlets.

'Do they monitor what happens or are they just after the money? They are not taking care of local businesses and it seems to be all about the money for regatta,' he added.

He said he had no problem with the food outlets which arrive as part of the funfair, with their burgers and candyfloss. But he said the Cheapjacks has included a large number of food outlets.

'There was a tea and coffee stall outside Boots for the second year and that is the entrance to where the cafes are in Fairfax Place,' he said. 'Could they not monitor how many food outlets they have and limit the number?' he asked.

Dino Bali, who opened a pizzeria in Victoria Road three weeks ago, claims he was also hit by the number of regatta food outlets allowed in the town.

'For the first two weeks we had a lot of attention. It was packed. Then regatta started. We had extra staff and extra materials and everything and it was empty. It was dead,' he said.

He said the number of food outlets had had an impact. 'How many burger vans were there alone? Seven or 10? I don't know,' he said.

Regatta chairman Jonathan Hawkins said:' I don't agree that the number of food outlets have been growing. In Royal Avenue Gardens that has been no increase in the last two or three years. We try to vary choice. Every operator in there has something different to offer consumers.

'They are all high quality in Royal Avenue Gardens.

'The fair is limited in its contract and the street market I don't think has any more than normal.

'One of the concerns was the number of patisseries or cake stalls but I think it was a good selection and I am sorry that anybody feels upset.'