IN PICTURES – Foodies flock to savour the flavour in Alcester

FOODIES from across the district descended onto Alcester town centre last Saturday (May 16) to partake in the town’s spring food festival.

Thousands of visitors enjoyed browsing more than 100 stalls that featured a variety of foods from around the world, including Jamaican, Thai, Spanish, Greek and Cajun.

Closer to home, the annual celebration of good taste featured Merrylegs apple juice from Bidford, Shakespeare Distillery from Stratford and St Maur based on the Ragley estate.

Alcester’s court leet added some additional colour as officers conducted an assizes. This involved officers like the fish and flesh taster inspecting stands, ensuring produce was of the best quality.

A number of awards were given out. This included Number 1 Pad Thai which was judged Best Street Food vendor and Autumn Peacock from Alcester Grammar School won the schools’ bake-off competition.

Festival director Rowan Mackenzie, who experienced her first event in the top spot, said that despite the weather, the event experienced a “really good” turnout, estimated to be around 10,000.

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“We had lots of return traders who were glad to be back, which was good, as well as some really interesting new ones.

Rowan explained that this year there had been a particular drive to increase the diversity of food offered such as vegan and gluten-free products, ensuring that all dietary requirements were catered for.

“We also had a lot of small Warwickshire food producers attend, who are passionate about what they create which I think is really important,” she added.

A significant part of the profit raised from the event, which is organised entirely by volunteers, will be channelled back into local community organisations.