The New Year is not just for personal reflection – it’salso well timed for review and restructure. This could not be more true for the Emsworth Food Festival.
Early December, the directors decided to postpone theevent until 2009, recognising that whilst it was the mostsuccessful year yet, it also had the greatest impact on peopleliving and working within the town centre. Emsworth FoodFestival effectively closed the town centre to ‘normal’ lifefor just over four days, whilst the cost of running such alarge event continued to escalate.
So what will 2008 be like? There will be plenty of activitywithin the organising committee, as they have pledged tokeep the heart of the festival going. Projects will continuein schools, the three Young Chefs competitions will takeplace and local charities and initiatives will benefit from the2007 event. In addition, the organisers are looking to put together a comprehensive planning schedule includingconsultations with residents and businesses to look at how the next Festival can serve best the community’s interests.The team will also be visiting other regional festivals totake a fresh look at what attracts visitors whilst seeing forthemselves the challenges and solutions taken by other food events.
The Festival was originally set up to serve the businesses within Emsworth, and for many it will be a year to reflecton how the Festival works for them – particularly aroundSeptember. Does the Festival generate income simply forthe producers trading at the event or is it key in keepingEmsworth buzzing with a choice of food retailers and greatrestaurants and pubs – allowing people to discover somethingthat Emsworth people have known for decades. Emsworthis a unique place, worthy of national attention and one thatwill continue to thrive amongst a world becoming dominatedby supermarket giants – several only a few miles away inthe foreseeable future.
Amanda Fallbrown
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