A new food festival is being planned for south Warwickshire
PROPOSALS to bring a ‘high-profile’ international food and drink festival to Henley have been revealed.
Simon Woods, the Co-op membership pioneer for the town, is now calling for support from businesses, community groups and suppliers within the area to make it a reality.
The first-ever Henley International Food and Drink Festival is expected take place on a weekend in 2023 but a date and venue has yet to be agreed. Mr Woods, who organises the popular Henley fairtrade cake competition which takes place in March, says the idea of the annual festival is to:
- Celebrate the food and drinks businesses in and around Henley.
- Encourage visitors to Henley and to promote the town as a food and drink destination.
- Bring the Henley and Beaudesert community closer together.
Restaurants, takeaways, cafes, pubs, breweries and food producers will be invited to take a stall to sell food and drink at the event, together with cooking demonstrations and entertainment.
To ensure all Henley residents can enjoy the festival, Mr Woods revealed food and drink would be paid for via a voucher system, with free vouchers given to families and individuals for whom such an event would be financially unviable.
He added: “The free vouchers would be paid for by sponsorship from non-food businesses in the town. Using vouchers will ensure that no one would know who got them free. Schools and community groups would be asked to help distribute them.
“Vouchers would be worth £1 and be on sale at the event. The stall holders would be free to set their own prices and would redeem the value of their vouchers at the end of the event. Sales for items to be taken away could be purchased with or without a voucher.”
Mr Woods said that two things are now needed for the festival to proceed:
- The support of a majority of the food and drink businesses in Henley, as well as other community-based groups such as the parish council and the Court Leet.
- The starting up of a committee to formulate a plan. This would comprise a small number of active members and a larger group of interested parties such as the food and drink businesses in Henley.
“The active committee would put together a rough plan and ask for feedback from the wider group,” said Mr Woods. “The idea is to get things done and avoid bureaucracy, whilst ensuring everyone has a say.”
Anyone who would like to join the committee, help with the planning of the event or has ideas for the festival should contact Mr Woods on 07754 888180 or by emailing simon.woods@coop.co.uk.
