Food Festival lost to 2020

Organisers of the Taste Cheshire Food and Drink Festival have taken the painful decision not to stage this year’s event and to move the entire programme to Easter 2021.

The event, which was in its 20^th year and takes place at Chester Racecourse, had been planned for Easter this year until rules regarding the pandemic made that impossible. Organisers had agreed with Chester Race Company that it could be moved until the August bank holiday weekend in an effort to stage this important Chester event.

Principal Organiser, Briony Wilson said. “We have waited as long as possible for clear guidance on this event but the most recent government guidelines are still unclear where events are concerned and with the safety of our many customers from all over the UK our paramount concern we have taken the decision not to stage the event in August and move the whole programme to 2021. I would like to thank Chester Race Company for all their assistance and to our many suppliers who have helped by moving to our new dates, it has been a huge task.”

Taste Cheshire CEO, Stephen Wundke said “This is an incredibly sad moment for us. The festival has been ever present over the last 2 decades and it generates now over £3 million each year in economic benefit for the city of Chester. The hotels, guest houses, restaurants and pubs are all full over the time we stage the event and this is economically bad for both the city and us as an event. However, we have taken it on the chin and worked hard to secure all of the highlights for 2021, where we will be planning a major celebration with all the big names booked for Easter next year as well as some added bonuses. We would have been taking bookings for exhibitors for next years event in July this year as it is and booking for Camperfest tickets would have started in October, so it really isn’t that much different now.”

Briony Wilson added “Those who have bought tickets to either attend Camperfest or the food festival have been assured that their tickets will be valid for the 2021 event and they need do nothing in the meantime. Given we have been a not for profit event we would encourage all of those who feel they would attend in 2021 to keep their tickets and join us to make 2021 something very special.  For those who do require a refund, they can been assured these will processed over the coming weeks.”

For more information please go to www.chesterfoodanddrink.co.uk