Aided by clear sky and scorching hot temperatures, an estimated 10,000 people attended across the day, helping provide local independent traders with a much-needed boost to their businesses in the process. 

An important return for local businesses

The importance of being able to hold such an event and return to something like ‘normal’ life was clear to see from the facial expressions behind the face coverings of traders and those attending

And whilst there were plentiful stories from stall holders of undergoing a difficult period of uncertainty and having to adapt their business models to survive a tricky period, a determined spirit and sense of their business being stronger having faced adversity was prevalent throughout.

But ultimately show piece events, such as the eat:Festival are crucial to these locally run enterprises and the surrounding economies they support, as Beverley explained;

“The opportunity to sell face to face is the bread and butter for most of our producers, the vast majority of them rely on markets and smaller festivals like ours.

“Throughout lockdown quite a lot of them have developed their wholesale business, but they all love selling at markets, they all love getting that feedback. 

One of the many stallholders we spoke to that echoed this sentiment was Mark Davey, Co-Director of Epic Beers Ltd (Trading as Pitchfork Ales).

“It’s affected us greatly” said Mark, referencing the nationwide lockdown period, “obviously our normal trade went overnight.”

Thankfully the incorporation of a successful click and collect service run from their Weston-Super-Mare base and online sales have been able to support the business through that interim period, but Mark nevertheless described the return of events such as the eat:Festival as “vital” to his business. 

Another striking a reassuring positive note was Anna Blake, owner and baker of the family run supplier of sweet treats, Cake Bar.