About Us

(the very first) Oswestry Food & Drink Festival is being brought to life by a small band of local people including traders, chefs and business people who simply want to provide a brilliant opportunity, over 2 (blissfully sunny days - we hope) to showcase the amazing food and talent in and around Oswestry and the Borders - and have a most enjoyable and fun day for everyone in the town! Not to mention, tasting the odd sausage or two.

INTRODUCING The Oswestry Food Festival Team:

Yossi Gliksman, Chairman (Web: The World's Biggest Little Cookshop!)
Yossi Glicksman, Oswestry’s premier supplier of specialist cookware for over 20 years, is one of the town’s most respected and energetic retailers. Yossi, a vastly experienced cook as well as retailer, is the driving force behind the first ever Oswestry Food & Drink Festival and is its dynamic Chairman.Upstairs Downstairs (Oswestry) Ltd, 35-37 Leg Street, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 2NN, Tel: 0845 3300232.

Isabelle Waine, Secretary
Isabelle, like all the food festival team, just loves her food. She is equally passionate about where the food comes from, who grows it, sells it and cooks it. Isabelle has lived in the gorgeous Glyn Ceiriog Valley for the last 14 years and loves working and shopping in Oswestry - it's a friendly town, with a range of shops and markets, restaurants, pubs, cafes and tea shops that many would envy. Isabelle thinks it is wonderful to be able to talk to shop owners and market stall holders, get their advice on the right cut of meat, the right fish, the freshest fruit and vegetables and just take time out to really enjoy the experience. Isabelle frequently has need for coffee to allow her wallet time to cool down and to give her arms, and mouth, a rest! She is part of the husband and wife team behind Wild Garlic! - a local magazine dedicated to celebrating the best of food in Oswestry and the Borders.

Ivan Watkiss, Producer/Exhibitor Manager
Ivan Watkiss has been Oswestry’s finest purveyor of gourmet foods for 18 years. Established in 1989, Gillhams Delicatessen has built an enviable reputation not just for its superb front of store deli counter, but equally impressive take-out service and coffee shop at the rear. Ivan’s passion for quality food has seen him develop Gillhams into an all round food lover’s delight, serving a range of mouth-wateringly delicious food and snacks – much of it locally sourced – both front and back of house. Gillhams Delicatessen, 27, Church St, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 2SU Tel: 01691 653187

John Waine, Festival Designer
John is a Professional Coach (down Chapel Court, off Church Street) and Web/Logo Designer. Whether coaching or web/logo design, he enjoys doing work that uplifts people, businesses and communities! Want to put a smile back on the face of your website? I'm your man. :)

He also enjoys acting (Kinnerley Players), writing and making a mean risotto! Having once appeared doing Stand-Up at the UK's biggest Comedy Venue (Liverpool's Comedy Club), he soon realised that Eddie Izzard has very little to worry about. If you are wondering about the logo, John says, "It's about the whole town being included in and embracing the festival - a wonderful expression of Oswestry at it's best!"

Jilly Hartshorn, Retail Events Co-ordinator
I have worked at Honeysuckle Wholefoods since 1988.
I love good food,and think that in oswestry we can eat as well as anyone, anywhere.
All day at the shop we talk about food-starting with what we ate last night, swiftly followed by plans for lunch (we cook lunch every day) and deep discussion about what we'll cook when we get home!there arent enough meals in the day!

Vanessa Fairfax, Festival Fringe Co-ordinator
Vanessa is a foodie through and through; working in both the food and drink sector, with a background in restaurants. She shares her time between Honeysuckle Wholefoods, an award-winning wholefood shop that has been an important member of the food community in oswestry for 28 years! The other is Momentum Wines on Oswald Road; a fledgling wine merchants that supplies wines, spirits and beers to the public and trade. Having painstakingly tasted most of the wines in the shop, Vanessa can advise whatever the palate and budget!!!

Carol Davies, Festival Advisor (Oswestry Borough Council)
Carol, a country girl born and bred, is equally passionate about local food. Married to a Dairy Farmer and Mother of three, Carol has lived all her life in the glorious Tanat Valley. After attending senior school in Oswestry, Carol has worked in the busy market town as well as helping out on the family farm.
Brought up on Sheep and Beef farm Carol has been involved in the ‘field to plate’ process, the family having supplied the local butchers for many years, the local Livestock Market has also played an important part in farming life. All the family enjoy home baked food using local seasonal produce.

PLUS WELCOME SUPPORT FROM

Oswestry Town Council, Oswestry Borough Council, Shropshire County Council, the European Regional Development Fund and Awards for All.