Bumper Crowd At Big Welsh Bite

Big Welsh Bite, the Welsh Food Festival, attracted around 15,000 visitors over the weekend. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The sun shone over the two days as people of all ages enjoyed the Council’s annual summer event at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd – the home of the National Lido of Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There were cookery demonstrations all weekend with residential chef Geoff Tookey, as well as many food stalls packed with local produce, all grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the stallholders themselves. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Download our Big Welsh Bite recipes ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There were also many craft stalls scattered around the showground, as well as arena shows and other attractions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Master chef Geoff Tookey, a firm favourite at Big Welsh Bite, served up many mouth-watering dishes and also shared his recipes with visitors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Arena acts at Big Welsh Bite included Duck Driving, Birds of Prey and Racing Llamas. Also popular with visitors was the farm area and the Silent World Aquarium – a fully-recreated rock pool containing all the amazing creatures you would normally find in a rock pool at the beach. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The stilt-walking chef was also very popular on both days, as were roller-skating Tomato and Peach! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Maureen Webber, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Council Business, said: “Big Welsh Bite has been an enormous success, attracting thousands of visitors over the two days ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There was fun for all ages, and it was great to see families coming along to make the most of the glorious weather in the spectacular surroundings of Ynysangharad War Memorial Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many made the most of their visit by also going along to Lido Ponty to enjoy an outdoor swim before heading off home.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Did you go along to Big Welsh Bite 2016? If so, please take a few minutes to complete our online survey. Your comments will assist us in continuing to improve our annual event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​