Festival turns out to be taste of things to come

Herefordshire’s first Food Festival has been hailed a great success by the organisers with more than five and a half thousand visitors attending the Herefordshire Racecourse event over the two days.

The reaction of visitors and exhibitors alike has left organisers talking of this now becoming a permanent fixture on the Herefordshire calendar.

Originally, a bid for some financial support from the 'River Leader Plus' European funding programme featured an official target of 7,000 visitors over the first two years.

“It all went so much better than we could ever have hoped," said Cultural Services Manager, Jane Lewis. “Even the heavy rain on the second day of the event couldn't dampen people’s spirits and I think everyone left the Racecourse feeling that this was an event here to stay."

She added: “The profile of Herefordshire food and drink has never been higher – locally, or nationally. We generated publicity for this event in several national newspapers and hosted journalists from throughout the UK and Europe, both in the build-up to the event, as well as during it. And it's now firmly established as a part of one of the biggest food and drink campaigns ever run by the national tourist authority, VisitBritain."

The annual Flavours of Herefordshire awards took centre-stage on the eve of the new Food Festival. Guest of honour, Sophie Grigson, then joined celebrity chef John Torode to wow the crowds with some mouth-watering cookery demonstrations over the weekend.

Visitors to the Festival were then tempted by the local food and drink brought to the show by 84 Herefordshire producers and retailers – several of whom had won awards at the Flavours of Herefordshire dinner – and five others who are based on the Shropshire, Welsh and Worcestershire borders.

Elsewhere, there were talks on local beer and cider, and cattle, as well as an opportunity for more people to receive information about the Slowfood convivium which has been created in Herefordshire. Another highlight of the weekend was the 'Young Master Chef', which took place in front of a large crowd in the Food Theatre.

Dates for next year's Herefordshire Food Festival will be announced early next year. Log onto the website www.visitherefordshire.co.uk for more details.