Food festival could return by popular demand

Nelson Food and Drink Festival could be back again next year due to public popularity and demand following its success at last month’s event in heart of Nelson.
Mayor of Pendle Coun. Nawaz Ahmed and Mayoresses - his wife Azmat and their daughter Uzma - at one of the Worldwide Food Market stalls. (S)Mayor of Pendle Coun. Nawaz Ahmed and Mayoresses - his wife Azmat and their daughter Uzma - at one of the Worldwide Food Market stalls. (S)
Mayor of Pendle Coun. Nawaz Ahmed and Mayoresses - his wife Azmat and their daughter Uzma - at one of the Worldwide Food Market stalls. (S)

An estimated 8,000-plus crowd flocked to the festival on September 19th, soaking up the late summer sunshine and experiencing all the flavours of the vibrant and fun-packed festival. Now plans are in hand to repeat the festival next year.

View photos from the event here - PHOTOS

One of the event’s biggest fans was Pendle Mayor Coun. Nawaz Ahmed, who officially opened it and, accompanied by his wife and daughter, spent the whole day there. He said: “I was really pleased to see the town so busy – at one point there were so many people in the food market I could hardly move.

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“This was a very different kind of event for Nelson and it really brought the whole community together. I hope to see more events like this in the future.”

Now a video of the Mayor talking about the food festival has been added to the event’s website: www.nelsonfoodfestival.co.uk along with a gallery of images from the day including festival guest chef Richard Fox who says: “Fabulous guests, wonderful atmosphere – I’ve just had a great day. Can’t wait to come back!”

A key attraction was a Worldwide Food Market, with more than 30 stalls set up along Market Street and doing good business all day.

Other attractions included a bhangra dance display, free face painting and henna art, a children’s cake decorating competition. People could also travel to the festival for free from as far away as Barnoldswick and Burnley, aboard a classic 1960s double decker bus.

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There was more positive feedback from the “Nelson Now and Then” group on social networking site Facebook. Comments there included: “We went and thought it was fab – brilliant to see Nelson full and noisy again”; “Lots of goodies to enjoy, great atmosphere”; “If it was a regular event it could get even better” and “Went in the afternoon, still loads of people, great atmosphere, let’s have another one!”

The festival was organised by Burnley-based Scott Dawson Advertising as part of a commission from Nelson Town Team – the local town centre traders’ group administered by Pendle Council. In a survey of town centre traders, 97% said they would like to see the festival repeated.

Paul Collins, council regeneration officer said: “Scott Dawson’s team were passionate and enthusiastic about it, and went above and beyond what was asked of them to organise a fantastic event for the community and visitors. Their attention to detail was second to none, with lots of hard work and endeavour culminating in a fantastic event, which attracted 1,000s.”

There is a dedicated Facebook page: www.facebook.com/nelsonshops