The 14th Berwick Food Festival during the first weekend in September 2021 was one of the most successful to date with around 4,000 visitors each day over the weekend. The Festival Directors and the elected committee of Berwick Slow Food (BSF) would like to extend our profound gratitude to the many individuals and businesses that have contributed to the success of the event.

First, our thanks are to our visitors who attended this, the first of the autumn series events. Attendees at our event support the traders showcasing on site – with 30 street traders stalls and 7 street food stalls offering various products, predominantly from Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. We extend our thanks to all those businesses attending (all listed on our website) as well as representatives on stalls run by English Heritage, the Autumn Festivals, the Lions House Allotments Holders, Berwick Cancer Cars and the North Northumberland Guide Dogs Charity.

Next, a very special thank you must go to our sponsors who without their generosity we would not be able to bring you the festival: Berwick Chamber of Trade, Greaves West & Ayre, Kreative Technology, Rennie Welch, Shunters & Silvery Tweed & thank you for the donation from Graham Head. We really do appreciate the ongoing support from our sponsors.

Thank you to the 27 volunteers and to the members of the committee & BSF who offered endless unpaid hours to plan, oversee and ensure the success of the event.

Next it is thank you to our demo kitchen participants Charlotte Foreman, Dewa Morton, Stewart Brown, and Sophie Hamilton. Thank you also to Lani Irving & Josephine Hart for running the children's workshops. We extend a thank you to the many entertainers providing ambiance in our courtyard including Jacqui Wicks; David Faill; Miles, Tom & David of the Am Jazz Experience; Molly and the Small Hall Band; Leanne McPherson and the pupils of the McPherson Dance Studio; Mark Pentecost at Mexican Cheesecake; and Barbara Pentecost & her team at Luna Negra Tribal Dancers.

Thank you also to our fellow autumn festival directors who each support and promote the wonderful and varied festivals that happen in Berwick each year.

We wish to thank Sophie Howard and the team at English Heritage for allowing us to stage our event at the historical Berwick Barracks and to Berwick Town Council for their generous support to allow road sign posting and for funding other sections of the event. We thank those who provided services for us including Simon at Events Support Services for the toilet hire; David & Scott Mulvey for the Electrics; Julie for the Bins; Wayne & Mike, the sound engineers at PFL Audio; Claire & Craig for High viz products from Berwick Community Trust; Stevie Jack for the stall hire; Ally, Lorraine & Grant from Border Medical Services, Kevin & Denise at Print Spot and to Joanne for the supply of chairs from Olympus.

Thank you to Keith Montgomery our piper who introduced our festival each day and to Debbie Jerdan and the Community Team from the Beehive Youth Project who helped with clearing up after the event.

This was our first year of the Berwick Food & Drink Fringe event and thank you to all the hospitality supporting this event in town including Pier Red [Keith], Bear Claw [Rikki], Radio Rooms [Jemima], Mule on Rouge [Sian & Zoe], Audela [Sarah & Craig], Atelier [Mark], Repas 7, Curfew [Gemma & David], Karmic Bakery [Tanya] & Hop & Bottle [Raymond].

Overall, a great weekend and on behalf of Berwick Slow Food, thank you once again to everyone who participated at our event and who, collectively, have kick-started a great month of festival events here in Berwick.

We look forward to seeing you all again in 2022!

Kate Gill (Chair), Kev Wylie (vice-chair), Sophie Hamilton (secretary) & Ken Hardy (Treasurer). Festival Directors for the 2021 BFF on behalf of the BSF committee.