The ALBOS team was out in force at the Food and Drink Festival so watch out for our picture special later this week.
Organisers of the Stone Food & Drink Festival which took place at the weekend have announced the event was one of the biggest in its 10 year history – despite concerns over the weather forecast.
The Taste of Staffordshire sponsored festival drew record crowds on both Friday and Sunday, with Saturday proving a hit despite a rather wet start and poor overnight forecasts. The packed programme which, alongside stalls from over 100 stalls from artisan food producers, included cookery demonstrations from top local chefs, a diverse Talks & Tastings schedule, live music, pop-up restaurants and interactive cookery classes, played out over three days on Westbridge Park; with the traditional Festival Farmers’ Market gracing the town High Street on Friday and Saturday.
Students and staff from Staffordshire University swelled the ranks of the Festival’s regular team of volunteers; filling roles as diverse as tour guides on the Park & Ride buses and as human ‘information points’ throughout the weekend, as well as compiling and carrying out an in-depth visitor survey.
Festival Chairman Richard Stevens says:
“We are delighted with how smoothly the weekend went – we have some very happy exhibitors who have gone home saying they have enjoyed their best event yet, with many selling out and having to re-stock over the course of the weekend. The visitor numbers were fantastic – particularly given the awful overnight weather forecast for Saturday, but by midday the rain clouds had cleared and blue skies and sunshine welcomed visitors by the busload.
“I’d like, as ever, to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in this event – it is a non-for-profit, Community Interest Company and relies 100% on volunteers to make it happen – so, alongside out ‘army’ of dedicated volunteers I’d like to thank local businesses for their support, our generous sponsors, the exhibitors who attended to showcase their delicious wares, our talented local chefs, the staff and students of Staffordshire University and last, but not least, each and every visitor who attended the event and helped create such a bright, bustling atmosphere.
“We’re now looking forward to the results of the visitor survey – we know that visitors are attending the event from further afield, but it will be interesting to get an insight into the festival’s full reach as we look forward to bringing even more and more visitors into Stone over the next 10 years – and beyond!”
The 2015 Stone Food & Drink Festival will take place on Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th October 2015. For further information on the festival visit www.stonefooddrink.org.uk.
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