OS FOOD FESTIVAL WAS A STUNNING SUCCESS!!!

This has been quite a journey so far for the Oswestry Food and Drink Festival.

It's amazing to think that this is only our 4th year. What will our 10th be like? This weekend that showed, to anyone who had any doubts, that Oswestry Border Market Town is truly loved by visitors from far and wide.

What makes Oswestry Food & Drink Festival so attractive is a mix of the highest quality, local exhibitors, laid out in a traditional market town, with cultural delights like the finest opera singers, along with free entry designed to make it an all-inclusive festival. Everyone was able to see, smell, taste, hear and feel the atmosphere that Oswestry generates.

*** If you missed the festival, watch THE VIDEO.

Time and again, local people said they had "Never seen so many people in Oswestry", that "This should happen more often". As the Festival Organiser, I can only thank the many people, volunteers and organisations that helped to make this festival happen. In particular, I'd like to make a special mention to Oswestry Town Council, the Market Manager and their Maintenance Team who worked tirelessly to provide the stalls we require, set the stalls up and generally be fully on board with what we are looking to achieve.

A big thanks too, to Paul Evans and his team at P&S Electrical who organised and expertly delivered the power requirements. It simply wouldn't have been possible without them both. Also, to the many shops and businesses along Cross St, Bailey St and New St that sit alongside the festival - their co-operation is invaluable and I only hope they appreciate that the new visitors who come to Oswestry on this weekend, will return to see more of what they offer having had such an enjoyable experience of the town.

As for next year, we have considered extending along Church Street towards Cae Glas Park - bringing in other other food and musical elements. The festival should grow to serve the needs of the town and it's people, and no more. It would be very interesting to hear your views on their own experience of the festival and how their would like to see it develop.

SPANISH FOOD & LIT EVENING AT BOOKA BOOKSHOP

COME AND MEET AUTHOR JO EAMES & ENJOY DELICIOUS TAPAS TOO!

To celebrate the upcoming Food Festival, Booka Bookshop invite you to transport yourself to the beautiful Balearic island of Menorca, the setting for Jo Eames new novel, "The Faithless Wife". Jo will read from her book and talk about the island history and what inspired her to write it.

Tickets £10 will include a delicious tapas selection and complimentary wine! Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets available from Booka Bookshop, Church St - call 01691 662244.

NOW FULLY BOOKED!

THE FESTIVAL PROMISES TO BE BIGGER THAN EVER THIS YEAR!

Demand for this year's food festival has been outstanding with the quality of exhibitors exceptionally high.

The festival is now fully booked - but if you are a top quality local food or drink exhibitor - ideally within 30 miles of Oswestry, then if you do get in touch, we shall include you on our email list for next year.

It's going to be one cracking festival this year and we look forward to welcoming you to sample the delights that this region has to offer.

THE OSWESTRY FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL 2010

PLANNING HAS STARTED ON THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL

Always amazes me that no sooner does one festival finish, than it's time to plan for the next year.

We're already looking at how to make the 2010 festival extra-special and beautifully-formed. :)

Several exciting new exhibitors from the locale have been in touch to take part next year - which is great! Not to mention, those much-loved exhibitors that it wouldn't be the same without - you know who you are. :)

As ever, we are looking for a food festival for all the family in the heart of our buzzing market town on the Marches.

If you are a local exhibitor interested in showing at the festival, please get in touch soon - the earlier the better.

On the other hand, if you would like to help out at the festival, to put up stalls, hand out programmes, being a festival steward - just get in touch via the contact page.

Once again, we look forward to working closely with Oswestry Town Council, to put on an event th town can be proud of.

That's it for now.

THE STORY OF 2009'S OS FOOD FEST!

WOW! Oswestry did it again and came out in their thousands to enjoy the Food Festival. A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!

VISITORS FROM EVERYWHERE

We had visitors from all over the place including Congleton. :) Many people came over from the West Midlands, Cheshire and North and Mid Wales. Not to mention, many visitors from the Llangollen Eisteddford who perhaps wanted to sample some local food & drink to take home.

The exhibitors excelled with some top class produce at very reasonable prices. We have had some smashing comments from exhibitors:

"I have only three food festivals in my "can't think what they could do to improve" list: Tewkesbury, Ludlow and Oswestry"

"Never seen so many people in Oswestry for 15 years looked like a real market town should do!"

"The Best, Freshest, Food Festival Around."

THE OPERA SINGERS - BELL'ARIA

Kerry and Grace gave some outstanding performances on both days ranging from the classical to musicals.

Many people have commented how lovely it was to hear classical music for a change being performed live right in the centre of town.

HOW DO WE BETTER THIS NEXT YEAR?

The Oswestry Food Festival Team are already reflecting on what we can learn from this year's festival and how to enhance it for next year. If you have any ideas on what you would like to see or hear, feel free to let us know by contacting us through this site.

So, thank you once again to the exhibitors, the Oswestry people, the visitors, the singers and musicians, the markets, the Town Council team, Shropshire County Council licensing, Country & Border Life, The Advertizer...and all the various sponsors such as Burbidges, P&S Electrical, Upstairs Downstairs, TheBestOfOswestry, Paperways, Oswestry Cobblers, The Smithfield, The Walls and the volunteers.

READY, STEADY...TASTE! :)

This weekend, Sat & Sun, sees the 3rd year of the immensely popular Oswestry Food & Drink Festival with FREE ENTRY FOR ALL!

Last year, around 15,000 visited over the two days, and this year it's even bigger & better with almost 50 exhibitors mostly from within 30 miles of Oswestry - so a truly local celebration of top quality food & drink.

There's beer and truffles, sausages and cheese, ostrich and game, cakes, puddings, jams, crepes, liqueur, and maybe even squirrel!

As well as food, we have lots of entertainment especially OPERA DUO, BELL'ARIA who have played Covent Garden's Crown Court singing around the festival serenading visitors and exhibitors alike! We have Celebrity Cooks, face-painting...

...Salsa in the Square, a grow your own section with info on planting and composting... not to mention The Infamous Tea Dance on Sunday for Severn Hospice - tea, cakes, music and dancing.

Also, many venues around Oswestry are running special events during the weekend from Cocktail Garden Parties to Summer BBQs with Live Music too!

LOCATION

The festival is right in the heart of Oswestry town along Bailey Street, Cross St and New St, and Bailey Head on Sunday.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

...get this week's TIZER which has a pullout Festival Map and Programme, visit the website www.oswestryfoodfestival.co.uk or call at the Festival Stall on the day for a free programme.

The festival is FREE ENTRY and you are invited - so come along, the fun starting at 10am on both days.

THE LOCAL REAL ALE TRAIL

NINE VENUES WITH THREE DAYS TO EXPLORE THE REGION'S ALES

Starts Friday 10th July to Sunday 12th July.

1. The Golden Lion, Upper Church St
2. The Oak, Church St
3. The Wynnstay Hotel, Church St
4. The Fox, Church St
5. The Ironworks, Church St
6. The Smithfield, Salop Road
7. The Griffin, Albion Hill
8. Red Lion, Bailey Head
9. Wilfred Owen (Wetherspoons), Willow St

The First Prize which includes a day's brewing at Stonehouse Brewery and pints to bring home is, well, stunning. Not to mention, Runners-up prizes of glasses, T-shirts etc.

Anyhow, just make sure you call at the Stonehouse Brewery stall at the bottom of Bailey Street with your completed Ale Trail form. These are available from all the above mentioned venues.

And a big thank you to each and every one of the venues for taking part - and to Stonehouse Brewery for their brilliant work in organising it.

What are you waiting for - enjoy! Take it easy :) - but enjoy.

CONGRATULATIONS TO WELSH CIDER CHAMPIONS 2009!

STEVE HUGHES, A FESTIVAL FAVOURITE, HAS JUST BEEN MADE WELSH CIDER CHAMPION 2009 AT THE WELSH CHAMPIONSHIPS.

This year has been hugely successful for Steve. Rosie's Triple "D" Cider won 3rd PLACE at the ROYAL BATH AND WEST SHOW for Dry Cider, then 2nd PLACE in the NATIONAL CIDER CHAMPIONSHIP organised by CAMRA, and to top it all, for the second year running, he won the Medium Cider Category at the WELSH CIDER CHAMPIONSHIP and was awarded the honour of WELSH CIDER CHAMPION 2009!

Well done Steve from Oswestry Food & Drink Festival team and looking forward to seeing you soon!

DON'T MISS ROSIE'S TRIPLE "D" AND HIS OTHER AMAZING CIDERS EXHIBITING.

If you would like to know more about "this jewel of a town" as a festival visitor from Coventry described it, the click on The Best of Oswestry.

If you would like to exhibit or get involved in some capacity next year - feel free to get in touch and let us know what you would like to do.

See you there! :)