Shrewsbury Food Festival on track for sell-out hat-trick

The event sold out in its first year and second year and is on course to do the same this summer, in Shrewsbury's Quarry Park.

The event will welcome 200 exhibitors, craftspeople and hot food vendors. There will be a chef demonstration stage, sponsored by Wenlock Spring, a series of talks and demonstrations, free activities for children and live music.

Event chief executive Beth Heath said: "The first two events were an enormous success and it looks as though this year will also be heavily oversubscribed.

"Last year we welcomed 20,000 people to our showground and we're looking forward to welcoming a similar number this year.

"Shrewsbury Food Festival has become a hugely popular event both with exhibitors and visitors.

"We're receiving inquiries from as far afield as north Scotland and Cornwall. It seems word has got out that Shrewsbury has one of the best and most family-friendly food festivals in the UK."

Prices are being kept at affordable levels, with adult tickets priced at £6 and family tickets at £12. Children will be given admission for £1.

The event will also generate money for good causes locally, with £1,000 going towards the cost of a new garden at a local school.

There will also be two restaurant-themed events to support Self-Help Africa and a local charity that supports the homeless, called The Ark.

Mrs Heath added: "We're organising two one-off events that will shine the spotlight on local restaurants and help worthy causes.

"We'll be sponsoring both of those and doing our bit to generate much-needed funds for them.

"We're also working with Wenlock Spring on a project to build a new garden for a local school. It's all systems go."

The event generates an estimated £500,000 for the local economy and has helped to put the town on the foodie map.

Further details are available from www.shrewsburyfoodfestival.co.uk.