12/08/2008 by admin.
THE Emsworth Food Festival has been scrapped.Community leaders have decided to ditch the controversial three-day festival and will be putting on four smaller events spread throughout the year.
The events will be called ‘festival markets’ and will have up to 40 stalls selling goods in South Street car park.
The food festival was cancelled this year after complaints that it had become a victim of its own success with more than 50,000 visitors descending on Emsworth and effectively closing the village centre for three days.
But it still remained uncertain whether the festival would make a return next year.
However, following a crunch meeting between Emsworth Business Association and the Food Festival Committee, it has been decided to scrap the idea of having a large food festival once a year.
Brendan Gibb-Gray, chairman of Emsworth Business Association, said: ‘I think it is a very exciting idea.
‘We have looked at Winchester, Chichester and Petersfield and we feel this is an opportunity to take the best of the Emsworth Food Festival and get as many local businesses involved as possible.
‘We are trying to make it a more contained event and hopefully minimise disruption to the rest of the town.’
The markets will incorporate businesses in Emsworth after complaints that the festival was not benefiting local traders. All businesses in Emsworth will now be given the opportunity to set up a stall.
The main theme will still be food, but other goods will be on sale, including gifts, books and crafts.
Organisers say the event will still have a ‘festival theme’ as there will still be street entertainment and cookery demonstrations.
The first festival market will take place on Sunday December 14 and will have a Christmas theme.
Mr Gibb-Gray said: ‘There are lots of economic reasons that say the food festival would be a difficult financial proposition at the moment.
‘It would be difficult at the moment to make it financially viable.’
But he added: ‘It’s not goodbye to the food festival. It’s hello it’s back, but it is in a different format.
‘Nevertheless it will be the best of the Emsworth Food Festival.
‘The News
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09/08/2008 by admin.
EMSWORTH could host a Sunday food market three or four times a year under plans from the town’s business association.The idea will be tested by a Christmas-themed market in December. The market would take place in part of the streetSouth Streetspan car park.Stallholders would be given guidelines to ensure the food adds to the variety already sold in the town. The business association has been discussing the plans with directors of the Emsworth Food Festival and with Havant Borough Council Business Development team.
Chichester Observer
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29/07/2008 by admin.
TALKS will take place tomorrow about the future of the Emsworth Food Festival.Businesses, retailers and the public are invited to discuss a way forward for the popular event, which has sparked controversy.It was cancelled this year after complaints that it had got too big.Last year 55,000 people descended on the vill ADVERTISEMENTage, sparking concerns about disruption as the village centre was effectively closed to traffic.The festival committee is considering holding a smaller version twice a year.Festival spokeswoman Amanda Fallbrown said: ‘The plan is that something goes ahead. Some of the ideas are to hold it twice a year, along the lines of a farmer’s market with local businesses getting involved.’
Trader Chris Gorton, owner of Sue Foster Fabrics in
, said: ‘I can understand they had to take a breather as it had got so big and everyone needed to take stock. It was a bit like a business running out of contol.‘I think the festival puts Emsworth on the map. Okay, I don’t take orders when it is on, but it makes people want to come back to Emsworth.’The meeting is at 6pm at the Community Association Centre in Church Path.
The News
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27/07/2008 by admin.
At the Executive meeting of Havant Borough Council on July 16th it was recommended that the Council approve the Emsworth Village Design Statement and the Design Considerations it contains as a material consideration in Development Control.
www.emsworthdesignstatement.org.uk
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24/07/2008 by admin.
EMSWORTH MUSEUM 2ND TO 31ST AUGUSTJeeves and Lord Emsworth are back in town! Well not quite, but this exhibition gives a close-up picture of Emsworth as PG Wodehouse would have seen it during his ten years in the town and speculates on some of the people he might have met. Local place names and a few locals feature heavily in his books and even Emsworth itself is described lovingly in them. The display includes photos, letters, books music and memorabilia
Opening Times; 10.30 to 4.30pm Saturdays and Bank Holidays, 2.30 to 4.30pm Fridays in August and all Sundays
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