Wealden Food and Wine Festival
UPDATE 10:30AM SUNDAY 31 AUGUST : SUN SHINES ON THE FESTIVAL : SAVOUR THE DELIGHTS
View events for Sunday 31 August at First Wealden Food and Wine Festival here
Saturday 30 August 2014 : The weather held. By half past eleven, it was clear that we looking at a hit. The magic clicker at the Eastern Gate had already clocked up 600 through the arch into the castle grounds. With a procession coming to the event from both gates, we must have been talking about something like close to a thousand people inside the specially prepared arena.
Stressed, but along with the sun, a smile broke through on the face of Jane Kilby, the key organiser from Wealden Council, as she talked to Bay Life about the event that has been six months in the planning.
Jane came to work with Wealden from Hastings Borough Council, where she was responsible for advertising and promotion for both tourism and corporate activity.
The presentational work with the Food and Wine Festival, in both print and on the web is first class. Large A3 posters are all over the locality and as people entered the grounds they were passed a gatefold leaflet with all the delights laid out for them to a design standard that matched the ambitious goals behind the event.
With only a few minor glitches, but with everything working well, Jane could see that the event was already a success.
’This event means a lot to the locality’, we told her, ’the organisational detail is fabulous’. ’Thanks’, she replied, ’I really appreciate that’.
Inside the arena the specially prepared marquee with The Award Winning Long Man Brewery, based at Church Farm, Litlington, Sussex was in pride of place, pumping up to the sound of the Cajun Dawgs and a warm reception from the sprinkling of people that had gathered for their set.
Outside the big horseshoe of the stalls was humming. Local produce was at the forefront. Pembury Porkers with the Real Crackling Company from Tonbridge, was doing a brisk trade with big fresh baps, pork and scratchings and apple good enough to make a meal.
Knots of people gathered for tastings from various locally sourced companies. Many bought special treats to take home.
Great to see Flavours of India there as well from Hastings, with a Chicken Tikka Massala, piping hot, served with a nan and tasting like a little bit of Indian heaven.
At the Eastern Gate a Pevensey volunteer commented how she had just seen someone come out with a bag, brimful with local produce, saying how good it was to have something like this at the castle.
At the far end of the horseshoe Living History Workshops was in full action with historically inspired things for the kids to do.
Tim told us that it was all about ’connecting young people with their history by doing things’. Next door, and part of the Living History Workshops, was a bow making workshop. How cool is that for a stall at the first Food and Wine Festival at Pevensey Castle?
With Trugg making in action and a wine tasting demonstration from Bluebell Vineyard kicking off with a fizzing cork that flew straight out over the heads of a three line crowd, there was something for everyone.
The organisation was impeccable. Health and safety, a lost kids tent, volunteers a plenty, carefully crafted questionnaires from Wealden Council about how people felt about the event.
By the end of the weekend, how many people will be talking about through the famous gates? We are clearly talking about a good few thousand.
Next up was the Jemima Price Band, with a hint of Kate Bush in the long undulating songlines. More local talks were planned for the afternoon, and all the stalls were proving to be of interest. By 1:30pm, the show was in full swing.
Dawn Campion from English Heritage was on hand and heard to talk about the possibility that a five year plan may be put into operation, after a gauging of the success of this first event.
That is exactly what we want to hear.
An event of this description is so important to the local economy.
It is not just a kickstart to the local economy. It will put people into the villages of Westham, Pevensey and Pevensey Bay and their shops for the weekend. It will enable some of these people to enjoy all the attractions that we have to offer as part of their Big Day Out. If this was their first experience of Pevensey, the likelihood is that they will be back.
It is the kind of thing that local stakeholders and campaigners have been demanding over the last few years, best described as the call to see the unique history of the area brought back into sharp relief.
The first day at the Wealden Food and Wine Festival did what it said on the recycled cup.
It drew attention to the locality, gave people an opportunity to sample some great local produce, wine and beer and alongside, investigate the rich unique history beyond the castle and the grounds.
Along the High Street is two thousand years of history to discover. A journey up the steps to the little Court House, Museum and Gaol is like walking into a time capsule.
The Wealden Food and Wine Festival could grow to become a keynote event every last weekend in August.
Not a single organisational detail was overlooked. The thorn in the side of every event at the castle, the question of traffic and parking, was solved with a shuttle bus running people all the way from the Eastbourne Road in the Bay right through to the castle grounds.
Saturday 30 August 2014. Mark the date for reference in your diary.
It was the day that Wealden Council and English Heritage, working together, put Pevensey back on the history map.
As Jane Kilby left us, with a traffic come in hand, on a mission to sort out another minor problem, she turned back to reiterate what she had said. ’Thanks for your comments, I really do appreciate it’ and last, with a cheeky grin, ’and don’t forget to tell my Chief Executive’.
Take a bow Jane Kilby, we have just successfully sent the message, not just to your Chief Executive but to the people of Wealden.
Last weekend in August, come with us again to Pevensey Castle, because, hopefully, there will be Days Like This.
Simon Montgomery
editor, Bay Life
