The chairman of Stone Food and Drink Festival has said that he’s delighted with the success of this year’s event, which saw record crowds over all three days.
Richard Stevens said: “Our goal every year is to make the festival bigger and better than before – and we’re delighted to have succeeded again this year! The feedback from exhibitors, visitors and town traders has been phenomenal and we couldn’t run this event without their support or that of the small army of volunteers who work tirelessly to make the festival a success.”
Richard repeated his concerns about the controversial plans for ‘mixed-use development’ for Westbridge Park in the Stafford Borough Local Plan.
He added: “The festival is, and always will be, about Stone and promoting Staffordshire as a foodie destination. We are already making plans for next year but, should the current plans for development on Westbridge Park go ahead, the event would have no future. It would be a travesty for Stone to lose the area which makes the town so unique and allows groups like ours, the Stone Festival and bonfire committee, to run events for the community.”
The organising committee is a non-profit-making body and all proceeds from this year’s event will be ploughed back into the festival. The 2013 Stone Food & Drink Festival is set to take place on Friday 4th, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October next year. For more information visit www.stonefooddrink.org.uk
