After a successful first outing in the summer of 2014, Bay Life understands that the fabulous Wealden Food and Wine Festival is to return to the grounds of Pevensey Castle in the summer of 2016. Our understanding is that the event dates are being finalised.
The event was organised by Wealden District Council and scored a direct hit with a local audience and visitors from far afield.
The report published by Wealden District Council in November 2014 explained that, “this first food and wine festival took place over two-days in the grounds of Pevensey Castle. The total number of visitors for the weekend was 5678. There were 33 exhibitors made up from 25 paying exhibitors who sold food drink or craft; five non-paying exhibitors from the Pevensey & Westham area”.
In publishing the report about the event in 2014, Jane Kilby for Wealden District Council said “The festival was a great success with both the visitor the exhibitor and local people, and the evaluation forms completed expressed the same thing. The consensus on the comments question was an outstanding MORE (see evaluation report). Read full report details here
The second event here could see as many as 10,000 people coming to Pevensey and the locality over the weekend. Securing the event on an annual or biennial basis might encourage other funders and sponsors of events to consider the location as a possible venue for other food festivals as well as heritage, business and history based events.
The return of the Wealden Food and Wine Festival to Pevensey Castle will be a welcome boost to local business.
The event will also give the profile of the area a much needed boost, bringing visitors to the locality for a weekend which will see local hotels, beds and breakfast, public houses, cafes, eateries and shops all benefiting from the influx of visitors.
IMAGE CREDIT: Wealden District Council: Wealden Food and Wine Festival, Pevensey Castle 2014.
