More than 2,000 Scotch eggs, over 2,200 sausage rolls, three quarters of a tonne of Cumberland sausage, and 2,500 scones – just some of the sales statistics from stallholders and town businesses during the Taste Cumbria food festival in Cockermouth.
The streets were packed on Saturday and Sunday as people ate, drank, shopped and listened to live music.
Family fun included a fairground, street entertainment and face painting and community groups took the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for charity.
The event showcased some of the county’s Michelin-starred dining too – with a supper club created by The Cottage in the Wood and Low Hall the Lakes, and a free demonstration from Chris Archer at The Pentonbridge Inn.
Market Place was the setting for another Street Party where all the businesses came out on the pavements with their own stalls. The pubs, cafes and restaurants also did brisk trade all around the town. In Memorial Gardens car park, there was a lively atmosphere in the Tractor Shed Brewing drinks tent with acts on the main stage.
The festival also saw a book launch by Keswick chef Peter Sidwell, a comedy night at Cockermouth Cricket Club and a Brush and Tipple arty class at The Vicky shared workspace.
The Taste Cumbria festivals are free to attend, are organised by Cumberland Council and boost the local economy by millions of pounds.
Event manager Ellie Jones, of Cumberland Council, said: “I cannot thank everyone enough for supporting another amazing Taste Cumbria festival – particularly the local residents and visitors who came from far and wide.
“There are also our sponsors, the Cockermouth businesses who get so excited about the event bringing tens of thousands of people to their door and the traders who clamour to take a stall, to the musicians who ask to appear on our stages and the demo chefs who give up their time to showcase their skills.
“Huge thanks also to the event team made up of Cumberland Council staff, trusted contractors and enthusiastic volunteers – we really couldn’t do this without them rolling up their sleeves to make sure everyone has the best time.”
Joe Murray, manager of The Children’s Society Shop on Main Street, and co-chair of Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade, said: “I went round loads of the shops on Sunday to see how trade had gone. So many said they had seen an increase in sales, some selling hundreds of pounds more stock than their usual weekends, others saying they’ve had the best weekend in their years of trading.
“Taste Cumbria brings so many different people to the area who travel for the day or stay for the weekend. What an atmosphere! It all shows that the more people know about our fabulous little town the better.”
Taste Cumbria in Cockermouth is sponsored by Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery and Milburns Solicitors, and supported by Cumberland Council and RockWith.
