The taste of success: Melksham Food fair is a fitting end to a great festival

THE fifth Melksham Food and Drink Festival has been hailed a success by organisers, with people flocking to a range of tasty events.

The festival’s grand finale was the popular food festival fair, which took place on Sunday 15th of September, following a week of other festival events.

Chair of Melksham Food and Drink Festival Pam Wiltshire said, “We have had positive feedback. The figures for the Food Festival Fair were definitely up on last year, which is especially good considering the weather forecast. We estimate that well over 2,500  came and what is great to see is that people are visiting from outside of Melksham.

“The fair day has definitely grown. We were even having requests from stallholders right up until Saturday and we had 60 stalls booked in, up from 45  last year.   Stalls came from a wide area with far more  food outlets for people to enjoy some food at the festival – some new ventures, some established ones.   We also have established stalls, some of whom have been to every festival. The comment from the Routemonster  bus proprietor (John Westendorp) is that he comes because although we are a smaller event than he normally comes to, he enjoys the friendliness of it – he uses all local produce – again adding to the aims of the festival.

“The food demonstrations from Jon Furby, Farmers Fayre and the Sultan once again went down well and the hands-on breadmaking session led by Jon  was once again a great success – with pensioners down to young children participating.

“The Sunday is always a good day as we have tried to make it a community festival day with attractions for children, the music from Wessex Contraband and Stagecoach definitely added to the atmosphere as did the sterling work of Pauline Baker and Chris Aukland on the microphone.

“The chilli eating contest is definitely also a draw – how Jamie Sythes  tops that next year I don’t know! We also need a winner from Melksham – and male!”

This year’s other festival events included a mix of popular and new events including the Safari Supper (with four tours of Melksham’s restaurants this year to enable more people to take part), croquet and Pimm’s on the lawn at Wellhouse Manor, wine tasting with Sainsbury’s, a chilli eating competition with Wiltshire Chilli Farm, a cupcake decorating evening and a pudding evening.

Pam Wiltshire added, “The other events throughout food festival week have gone well – even though attendance at some of the events during the week were down on last year, all those that attended enjoyed the events, talk about what they will participate in next year – and that is what is great – the feedback is all about next year.

“What is always good with a smaller event is that it can raise the profile of charities and groups – for example the Harvest Supper raised funds for the Melksham Food Bank of £309.50, the quiz raised money for Dorothy House, the Big Breakfast for Amber, Pudding Evening for the Tourist Information Centre.

“Without the support of the town council, and the work of  Miriam Zaccarelli, deputy town clerk,  and the committee, and all the helpers and those who put on events during the week, the festival wouldn’t happen. We have to thank our sponsors – Sainsbury’s, Bloor and West Country Educational Agency Ltd for their funding.”

The Food Festival committee is welcoming any feedback or suggestions from the community so the festival can continue to improve. Email any feedback to foodfestival@melkshamtown.co.uk.