Exeter Food Festival

Exeter Chamber is proud to support Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink

Festival celebrates record attendance!

Exeter Food Festival 

Official figures have been released confirming that the 6th Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink last week was the most successful in its history.

A packed line up of celebrities, the region's top chefs and more than 120 exhibitors pulled in the crowds with a 19% increase in paying visitor attendance on the 2008 Festival. The daily attendance record was also broken on Saturday 18th with the most visitors on any single day in the festival's history.

A star studded affair with Masterchef winners, well loved cookery writer Mary Berry and TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp all making appearances helped spice up what is now one of the biggest Food Festivals of its kind, adding to the already extensive attractions laid-on for the crowds' enjoyment this year.

Festival Chairman and Board Director Derek Phillips said, ‘This year's festival really was fantastic and with attendance levels up by 19%, the record breaking year has once again given a great boost to all the producers involved and the regional economy, a great achievement considering these tough times.'

Chef, Festival co-founder and Board Director Michael Caines MBE added, ‘The buzz and atmosphere this year was fantastic as tens of thousands of people enjoyed the best South West chefs and food and drink. Each year we look to develop the Festival's offerings and it certainly looks like we have achieved this once again. Our thanks to all those involved including the exhibitors, chefs, Kirstie Allsopp and Masterchefs Mat and James, without whom Exeter and the South West wouldn't have one of the UK's finest food festivals. Here's to 2010!'

Michael was joined by more than 25 of the region's finest chefs, all cooking up a storm in the Celebrity Cookery Theatre throughout the three days, some going head to head to win the crowds vote while others showed visitors how to get the best out of delicious local produce.

Having thoroughly enjoyed his first appearance in the Celebrity Cookery Theatre, Tim Bouget, Chef and owner of ODE Restaurant, Shaldon, Devon said, ‘The whole event was very well organised and best of all I really enjoyed going head to head with my old boss Mark Dodson! I'm hoping for an invite to next year's Festival as I'll jump at the chance to be involved again!'

MasterChef 2009 winner Mat Follas helped launch the festival on Thursday 16th before joining Kirstie Allsopp, Michael Caines and James Nathan, 2008 MasterChef winner, at Friday's Blackthorn & Tribute Festival After Dark event in the totally unique and exclusive ‘MasterChef Medley'. Of the Festival, Mat said, ‘I really enjoyed being part of the Festival, especially as I live here in the South West and know just how much quality food and drink produce is on offer. In between cookery demos and interviews, I took time to meet exhibitors and producers with an eye to sourcing new and unique produce to offer my customers once I've signed the lease on my planned restaurant in Beaminster, The Wild Garlic, which is due to open very soon.'

Darts Farm Food is Fun Teepees were a new feature this year and according to Festival Director, Michael Dart, ‘Were a wonderful opportunity to create something very special, a brand new experience where visitors could partake in, learn about and enjoy the pleasures of food. Mary Berry and Susy Atkins in particular were popular with visitors and we couldn't be more happy about playing a key role in this great event.'

The Blackthorn & Tribute Festival After Dark events on Friday 17th & Saturday 18th proved a real hit thanks to live music from local bands, hog roasts, paella, real ale, cider and a selection of fantastic produce for all ages to enjoy. Both nights also featured top chefs wowing the crowds with their culinary skills including the 2008 & 2009 Masterchef winners, Matt Dawson MBE and Mitch Tonks taking on Michael Caines and Mark Hix and some good Cornish V Devon rivalry between Ben Bass & Angus McCaig.

Despite more attractions and highlights than ever before, the mainstay of the Festival remains the hundreds of exhibitors taking part from across the South West. The majority reported great success this year including Nick May, owner of Bread of Devon, Exeter who said, ‘It's our third year at the Festival and we did far better business on each day this year versus last. On Saturday we baked more bread for the afternoon and as my son brought fresh wild garlic loaves to our stand, it was a scene from the pied piper with each loaf selling straight away. We couldn't be happier!'

Andrew Freemantle from Kenniford Farm, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, said ‘Sales over the three days were up 20% on last year with people loving our hog roast baps and other offerings. We were flat out on Saturday for 12 hours thanks to the Festival After Dark party which was superb, with hundreds of people enjoying a unique night.'

First time exhibitor Clovelly Ice Cream, based near Bideford, North Devon had an extremely successful Festival. Owner Piers Langdon, said, ‘We had to re-stock on Saturday thanks to the sheer number of visitors and of course the good weather! It was a great event for us to be part of and also helped raise awareness of our new vintage style bicycles which will be selling Clovelly ice cream all summer long on Cathedral Green.'

Lovely Drinks Ltd of Barrow Gurney, Bristol, had a great first Festival. Richard Freeman said, ‘We sold out of most of our drinks with the most popular being our Grenadier apple and organic elderflower drink. We even took a good number of trade orders so are very happy with our first Exeter Festival experience!

Owner of Somerset based Rolys Fudge Pantry of Taunton, Helen Crowe, confirmed that having recently opened, the Festival was ‘...the first big Festival we've done and it was a fantastic opportunity to meet customers in a different environment from the shop. Sales wise we achieved the targets we had set and were very pleased with the number of people on Saturday and resulting sales.'

Ellie Bradshaw, Marketing Director, Cornish Sea Salt, Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, said ‘As a first time exhibitor, we were absolutely delighted with the number of visitors and honoured to be part of such a phenomenal and prestigious event. Many of the chefs at the festival are already using our salt and we were really pleased to speak to visitors who had come from as far away as Cheltenham and Penzance, testament to the draw of the Festival. We certainly look forward to returning next year to showcase our award winning product and to join one of the country's best food festivals.'

 

Alex Shapland of Wadebridge-based Kernow Confectionary, Cornwall was extremely pleased with what he described as a ‘...very very successful show. We do plenty of shows throughout the year and almost didn't attend the Exeter festival but, with sales up on last year and having received some good quality trade enquiries, we couldn't be more pleased that we did.'

Based in East Woodyates, Wiltshire, Suzzette's Fresh Pancakes' offerings went down a treat with visitors. Owner Clare O'Leary said ‘We've attended all 6 Festival's and this year was definitely the best we've ever had, sales-wise. We had two locations including during the Festival After Dark events which were super fun and helped us make the most of our presence at the Festival.'

Alice Shuttleworth from Olives et al of Sturminster Newton in Dorset, confirmed that ‘...the festival was extremely well organised and we were well supported by the organisers. With such a great venue, our marquee location meant that we met our targets and were very pleased to have taken part.'

Foodies looking forward to next year's Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink can look forward to another great event on the 9th, 10th & 11th  April 2010. For more information visit www.exeterfoodfestival.co.uk.

The Festival would like to thank Exeter City Council and Devon County Council for their continued support. Thanks also go to Abode Exeter, Don't let Devon Go to Waste; 3663; In-toto Kitchens, Kirk Hills Chartered Accountants; Exeter Chamber; Exeter & Heart of Devon Hoteliers Association; Michael Caines Restaurant; Taste of the West; Darts Farm; St Austell Brewery; Blackthorn; Brakes; Cornish Mutual; Frobishers; RH Advertising; Stephens Scown; National Farmers Union; One Voice Media and Exeter Castle.

 

Exeter Food Festival image

Right content

A message from
Ben Bradshaw MP

Upcoming Events

Latest Press Releases