The Abergavenny Food Festival has been shortlisted in the ‘Best Large Event’ category for this year’s National Tourism Awards.
Heather Myers, the Festival’s Chief Executive says, “We’re delighted to know that we’ve made it this far. The Festival has grown incrementally over 16 years. Our event is all about celebrating the growers, the processors, the cooks, the campaigners, the artists and writers who in different ways fly the flag for craft, diversity and culture. In 2014 we had an unprecedented attendance of over 31,000 people. But you don’t measure the success of an event by visitor numbers alone, or indeed in the space of what happens in just one weekend.”
She continues, “For us success is also about building lasting networks in the wider food community (producer and consumer); by providing an environment for the meeting of minds, out of which new ideas are born. It could be about our guest performers discovering and working with new producers or giving fledgling artisan business the right sort of exposure. It’s also about the inter-relationship between culinary movers and shakers and the public; an educative process that works both ways. In doing this we showcase the best of Wales and Welsh food and help promote the country as an exciting and distinctive tourist destination. We continue to say ‘no’ to homogenisation and a big ‘yes’ to all the above. And there’s one other thing we’re also clear about: the focus is firmly on fun and feasting and great Welsh hospitality”.
The winners and runners-up will be announced during the National Tourism Awards for Wales 2015 gala dinner and awards ceremony on Wednesday 25 March 2015. The Abergavenny Food Festival was awarded the accolade of ‘Best Event’ in 2013.
The Abergavenny Food Festival Blog 