Taste Cumbria made a triumphant return to Cockermouth at the weekend.
Many of the traders said they were using stock they’d reserved for day two of the festival to keep up with demand from thousands of visitors.
That meant some busy late-night baking and making, as well as trips back to their storerooms, to restock for Sunday’s trade.
Around 90 producers set up stall on Main Street, Market Place and at the newly-reopened Jennings Brewery, with a fairground also at the Memorial Gardens car park, for a packed weekend of entertainment.
There were two music stages, street theatre, a caricaturist and loads of free children’s activities, a comic cookery show and a comedy night.
Lots of the town’s businesses also had a busy weekend.
Crooked River Brewing Co opened its new Beer Shop on Market Place in time for Taste Cumbria – marking the date they launched their very first beers at the festival three years ago.
One shop reported taking its usual Saturday takings by 1.30pm, while another foodie business had to hold stock back to cater for its regular Monday customers.
Taste Cumbria festivals are organised by Cumberland Council and the sponsors and supporters for this event were Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, Milburns Solicitors and Rock With.
Joe Murray is co-chair of Cockermouth and District Chamber of Trade and manages The Children’s Society shop.
He said: “Taste Cumbria showcases not only the county’s producers but also Cockermouth’s independent businesses.
“It gets the town talked about and inspires people to return all year round. Our shop’s sales beat all previous Taste Cumbria weekends too so it really was a fantastic weekend.”
Mark from Lake District Posters, who was trading on the Main Street, presented Jennings Brewery’s head brewer Buster with a print to celebrate the firm’s return to the town.
The print will take pride of place on Jennings Brewery’s tap room wall.
