Nantwich Food Festival hailed massive success by organisers

Organisers have hailed another successful Nantwich Food Festival which pulled in 40,000 visitors and featured 200 contented exhibitors.

The three-day event saw various areas of the town packed with marquees and stalls with a wide variety of food and drink as well as live entertainment.

There were also celebrity chefs staging live cooking demonstrations at various venues.

The Vegetarian Society hosted the second demonstration theatre on Festival Friday to show how to cook some plant-based recipes.

For the rest of the weekend, local businesses including festival sponsors Cheshire College, Reaseheath and Snugburys as well as other local chefs showed their culinary skills.

Live music continued right through the weekend at both The Vine Bowling Green music stage, as well as at the Love Lane music stage.

The Kids Marquee was a huge success with youngsters busy all weekend involved in crafts, seed sowing, spaghetti sculptures and gingerbread decorating.

And seven-year-old Isabel Fearnley won a freakshake for herself and a friend at Miss Marmalade’s in the cupcake decorating competition.

For the third year, the burger making competition was eagerly contested, and Olivia Howarth aged 11 won the great prize of an iPad donated by Clewlow’s Butchers.

The BBQ competition was won by Sherwin Achebuche, who won a top of the range Broil King barbecue, while Cheerbrook Farm Shop supplied all meat for this competition.

The large exhibitor marquees sponsored by Applewood Independent, Mornflake, Hall Smith Whittingham and Cheerbrook, sold a great range of food, drinks and gifts.

Andrew Martin, Festival Director, said: “A real highlight of the weekend that we were delighted to manage was the transformation of the Civic Hall into a demonstration theatre where the four celebrity chefs and local chefs showed their cooking prowess to the delight of the packed audiences.”

Fellow Festival Director John Coulter added: “We would like to send a special thank you to both Nantwich Town Council and Cheshire East Council.

“Their support of the event enables it to take place every year for the sole benefit of Nantwich businesses, and to encourage visitors to return to the town.

“The Festival organisers have already heard feedback from visitors and exhibitors alike.

“A survey of exhibitors, and their comments will help guide our plans for 2020.”

Volunteer co-ordinator Ana Martins is keen to thank her team of volunteers.

She said: “Without the passion and hard work of the volunteers, the festival would not go ahead – we are all volunteers, whether we work two hours over the Festival weekend or throughout the entire year.

“If anyone would like to join us as a volunteer, then just contact me via the Festival website or email me at [email protected].”

Crewe & Nantwich Conservative MP candidate Dr Kieran Mullan joined the volunteers over the weekend.

He said: “I couldn’t believe some of the hours volunteers put into this, from morning to night every day of the event. They show real dedication.

“I would encourage everyone that comes and enjoys the festival every year to think about giving even just a few hours of help one year. Plus, you get some really great discounts!”

Festival Chairman Christine Farrall added: “We want to thank the local residents and businesses for their support and patience with the organisational and infrastructural demands of holding this event in the town itself.

“We do this every year to ensure that visitors experience the town, not just the Festival.”

Dates for Nantwich Food Festival 2020 have already been set for September 4-6.

For more details visit Nantwich Food Festival website at www.nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk

Many of the images here have been provided by Nantwich Events Photography and Jonathan White.

Below is a video filmed and edited by Nantwich Events Photography: