Newport Food And Drink Festival A Great Success – Despite A Soggy Start!

This weekend saw around 14,000 people flock to the city centre for the Tiny Rebel Newport Food and Drink Festival 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Traders, chefs and entertainers braved some seasonal wet weather and provided culinary delights, packed out demonstrations and brought smiles to the crowds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Debbie Wilcox, Leader of Newport City Council, said: “It was great to see people returning to the food festival and also so many first-time visitors – both local and from further afield. The festival has truly found its footing and what promised to be the biggest and best yet, certainly didn’t disappoint. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The fringe events were also excellent – empty plates and flowing conversation were definitely the markings of a very successful event for The Ridgeway Bar & Kitchen pre-festival supper on Friday night!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Tiny Rebel’s Bradley Cummings, said: “We’re so proud of our city, and this year’s food and drink festival really showed how we’re all coming together to make great things happen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There was a real buzz across the venues and it was great to see so many people not just visiting, but getting involved. We’re already thinking about how we can top it next year!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hywel Jones, patron of the food festival and executive chef at Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, said: “This year it really felt like we’d ‘got it’ – Newport and the food festival has achieved so much in just a few years and I’m very proud to have been involved.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Wilcox added: “I would also like extend my appreciation again to this year’s sponsors and supporters – without them we wouldn’t have had the offering we did. Thanks to the businesses, residents and visitors who all showed they’re #BackingNewport.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sponsors and supporters of this year’s event were Tiny Rebel, Admiral, Celtic Manor Resort, The Golden Lion Magor, Everett Tomlin Lloyd & Pratt Solicitors, Western Power Distribution, Mojo The Food Bar, Clarks and Friars Walk. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​