For release 27th June 2010
The al-fresco market place bustled with activity, with more than 40 stalls offered everything from the finest ciders, ales, honey, pies, pastries, bread, cheeses, cakes and other tantalising treats like freshly-sourced local beef, lamb, mutton and pork. The Festival is thought to have attracted at least 5,000 people delighted with the vast array of food on offer.
Mrs Kirsty Williams AM, alongside Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe and Cllr John Morris, Members of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, Mayor of Hay Mrs Mary Fellowes and Andrew Powell, organiser of the event, declared the festival officially open, against the backdrop of Hay Castle with the sounds of local choirs in the background. As part of the Welsh Food Marketing Development Programme, Hay Food Festival was kindly supported and funded by the Welsh Government.
Cllr Ratcliffe praised the festival saying: “Celebrating Hay Food Festival’s 10th Anniversary is something to be enormously proud of. So many festivals like this one have fallen by the wayside because of the credit crunch so everyone here deserves so much praise for keeping it going under tough times. The food, the choirs, the music – this is a real community spirited event and everyone here today has had a wonderful time.”
Andrew Powell, Catering Manager for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority and organiser of the event said: “It was great to see the whole town buzzing on Saturday; the Memorial Car Park was packed with a record number of quality local food suppliers and producers. Most of the stallholders have told me that this year was the best food festival event they’ve attended this year with lots of people spending money of local food. Sunday’s Arts and Crafts Festival was also busy and I’m hoping we can offer these two events next year in June.
“Many of the stallholders have already indicated that they will be back next year, and I look forward to seeing many of them at our Brecon Food Festival on Saturday 1st October.”
Other diary dates for festival goers include the Bannau Brycheiniog Summer Fayre held during the August Bank Holiday weekend (27th-29th August) and the Bannau Brycheiniog Food Festival on 1st October held at the Brecon Market Hall– a must for all food lovers!