The streets of Thame were teeming with visitors on Saturday 27th September when the town hosted its seventh annual food festival. More than 25,000 foodies traveled from far and wide to enjoy one of Oxfordshire’s finest food sensations, enjoying delicious local produce, inspiring cookery demos and a great day out.

More than 180 stalls lined the town centre from end to end serving up tasty local food and drink, bounty that included cured meats, cheeses, pies, preserves, ales and ciders. Visitors were able to try and buy, taking home fantastic, hand-made food and drink whilst supporting local producers into the bargain.

Celebrity chefs numbering Raymond Blanc OBE, Adam Simmonds, Sophie Grigson and winners of BBC Two’s the Great British Bake Off Edd Kimber and John Whaite thrilled visitors on the demo stage sponsored by AGA, whilst Tom Kerridge and many others made an appearance on the interview stage with festival patron, TV chef and writer Lotte Duncan and BBC Radio 2’s Ken Bruce putting them through their paces. Visitors got the latest cookery books signed by the authors at the pop-up book shop run by Thame’s independent book shop, The Book House.

Food fans tried their hands at sausage-making, bread shaping, wine tasting and fresh pasta making at exciting work shops and afterwards nursed a pint of local real ale at one of the friendly watering-holes in town including The James Figg pop-up pub. There was also a competition to win a day as a brewer with the Vale Brewery and the Aylesbury Brewhouse Co.

To make way for the festival the entire town centre was closed off for the day and visitors rode to and from Thame on one of four, traditional London Routemaster double decker buses, returning laden with purchases and smiles on their faces after a tasty and enjoyable day out.

“What an amazing day – Thame Food Festival just gets bigger and better every year!” says festival patron Lotte Duncan. “Record crowds, wonderful weather and staggering support from everyone who took part meant a fantastic day for Thame and for the fantastic local and artisan produce the event showcases.

“We have so many great producers on our doorstep, who are passionate about what they do, and we were thrilled to see so many of them out in force at the festival. We are also truly blessed with the support we have from celebrity chefs who give their time for free to bring a day celebrating local food into the market town of Thame.

“We couldn’t do it without them, nor without the support of our generous sponsors Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, AGA, Rectory Homes, Wellers, South Oxfordshire District Council, The Thatch and Belazu, and we’d like to say a big thank you to all of them,” she says.

As well as fantastic feedback from visitors from the day, stall holders reported brisk trading with many down to their last bottle, loaf or slice of cake by the end of the festival.

Finally, there was even more reason to celebrate on one stall, Long Crendon’s Bucksum, when proprietor David Newman proposed to his partner Tracy Russell and she said yes. Fittingly, the couple met at The Thame Food Festival four years ago, with David choosing this year’s festival as the perfect time to pop the question. David said, “It had to be today as it was a very special occasion, we’re food lovers and we love it here in Thame.”

The Thame Food Festival is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. For more information, please go to www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk.

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