ORGANISERS of the Wells Food Festival estimate that this year’s event on Sunday, October 13, attracted more visitors than ever before.
Festival director Jon Abbott said: “We were delighted with the success of this year’s festival. I think more people visited than ever which was fantastic for all our artisan producers, demonstrated by the ‘sold out’ notices that were appearing everywhere by the end of the day. Extending into the High Street proved to be a great success, for both the new traders who were able to attend and the almost 16,000 visitors to the festival.
“It is an enormous feat to put on a festival of this size, with many thankless tasks that go on behind the scenes. We have a truly amazing team of people who give up their time and work tirelessly to ensure it goes from strength to strength. I can’t thank them enough.”
Charlie Bigham’s was again the festival’s headline sponsor, and Charlie Bigham was at the event to judge the Best in Show stall, and to celebrate the recent launch of his first cookbook, Supper with Charlie Bigham. Festival-goers were able to buy a copy of the cookbook and have it signed by Charlie. A total of £1,254 was raised on the day, which has been donated to the Chefs in Schools organisation, which helps schools transform the standards of school food and food education.
Award winners: The Cooper & Tanner Best Cheese Stall – Homewood Cheese; The Clear Space Best Non Alcoholic Drinks Stall – Brew Planet; The Super8Media Best Alcoholic Drinks Stall – Dryad Gin; The Harris & Harris Best Cooks’ Ingredients Stall – Culmstock Chillies; The Filbert’s Best Snacks & Savouries Stall – Moist; The Saltus Best World Street Food Stall – JJ’s Trini Doubles; The Chubb Bulleid Best UK Street Food Stall – King Fin; The Mogers Drewett Best Bread, Cakes & Desserts Stall – Dark Matters; The Wells Food Festival Best Preserves Stall – Gingerbeard’s Preserves; The Millfield Best Confectionary Stall – As Raw As; The Probusiness Best Start-Up Business – Squeeze & Go; Best in Show – Homewood Cheese.