Llangollen Food Festival named in UK's top 10

Thousands of foodies will be making a beeline for the 20th annual Llangollen Food Festival on Saturday and Sunday at the Royal International Pavilion.

The event was founded in 1997 and pioneered food tourism by creating a shop window for home grown producers.

Since then the festival has grown, and now attracts around 8,000 food lovers from far and wide.

It was named in the top 10 food festivals in the UK by the Independent and Daily Telegraph newspapers.

Organisers have estimated that the festival pumps nearly £400,000 into the local economy every year.

Chefs taking part this year include Bryan Webb from the Michelin-starred Tyddyn Llan, and Dai Chef from Chirk, who will be there with his son, Daniel, the youngest head sommelier in the UK.

Stall holders include artisan bread and pie maker Robert Didier from Wrexham-based Orchard Pigs.

He said: "Llangollen Food Festival is fantastic and it's not difficult to see why it has been named as one of the Top 10 food festivals in the UK."

Among the celebrity chefs this year is Graham Tinsley MBE, who has prepared dishes for the Queen and Prince Charles on at least a dozen occasions, and also created St David’s Day feasts at 10 Downing Street.

Currently executive head chef at Carden Park in Cheshire, Graham said: “Myself and two other big-name chefs from the North Wales Culinary Guild, which I head up, will be doing six demonstrations on the Sunday of Llangollen Food Festival, featuring starters, mains and puddings.

“What they’ll all have in common is excellent local ingredients. Without doubt, North Wales produces some of the best produce in the world which I champion at every opportunity."

Committee member Pip Gale said: "We're heading for a record number of around 130 stallholders with a fantastic choice of produce, along with demonstrations from the region's finest chefs so there will be plenty to tempt the taste buds.

"I'm glad to say we're also making a positive contribution the local economy with food lovers travelling from far and wide because the festival is now firmly and rightly established as a major highlight in the UK's culinary calendar."

Ken Skates, the Clwyd South Assembly Member who is also the Welsh Government's cabinet secretary for the economy, said: “Llangollen Food Festival is an incredible success.

"The economic benefits that the festival brings to the area are considerable and underline the region's growing reputation as a go-to destination for food lovers.

"Food tourism is something I believe has huge potential for future growth and it is no wonder that North Wales has been hailed as one of the world's top four must see places to go by The Lonely Planet travel guide."