The organisers of the Taste Cumbria food festival have thanked everyone who supported the event in its first year under new management.
Last year saw Allerdale Borough Council take over the running of the popular festival which first launched in 2010 in Cockermouth to boost the town following the devastating floods the previous year.
The well-known event has become the county’s biggest annual food and drink festival with the flagship festival seeing local shops, restaurants and chefs coming together for a weekend of culinary celebrations.
The first event under the Allerdale banner – which also combined the Northbound music festival – brought £2.2m in the local economy and attracted more than 25,000 visitors over the weekend of September 27 to 29 (2019). A second festival – Taste Cumbria Christmas – was held on December 7.
Anna Chippendale, the council’s events manager and Taste Cumbria organiser, said: “Our first year running the event has presented some challenges but thanks to the support of our traders, local people and businesses in Cockermouth as well as council staff and volunteers we managed to host two successful Taste Cumbria festivals last year.
“Plans for the 2020 festivals are well underway and we look forward to working with everyone again to put on some fantastic events for the people of Allerdale and visitors from far and wide.”
Some changes were made to the September festival this year, including the introduction of a markers’ market and a street party in Market Place. As well as the main market there was also live music in the pubs on an evening, a pop-up restaurant by Michelin star chef Ben Wilkinson of The Cottage in the Wood, a comedy night and a demonstration stage.
The Christmas event was held over one day last year with adverse weather conditions forcing the organising team to cancel the planned second day. However, despite the weather issues a successful festival was held thanks to the hard work of those involved and the understanding of traders.
Leader of the council, Marion Fitzgerald, said: “We received some great feedback about the Taste Cumbria events last year and I thank all of those involved for their efforts in producing two wonderful festivals. Thanks also need to go to the customers, residents, businesses and traders who made them such a success, we hope to see you all again this year.”
Taste Cumbria had previously been managed by CN Events, part of the media company Newsquest Cumbria.
*Details of future events – such as Taste Cumbria – can be found by visiting https://visitallerdale.co.uk/ and the council’s events team can be contacted on [email protected].
