Newport Food Festival draws thousands of visitors to city centre

The free event saw more than 75 stallholders displaying a wide variety of the best of Welsh cuisine and specialist drinks, this year with a whole area dedicated to vegan and vegetarian options.

The day also featured demonstrations from chefs, including Hywel Jones from Lucknam Park Hotel, Michelin star chef James Sommerin, and Matt Pritchard, also known as the Dirty Vegan.

"It's great to support the festival again, being born and bred in Newport," said Mr Sommerin. "I'm quite excited, there is a buzz around the city.

"Hopefully my demonstration can give people an insight in to what we do at the restaurant and at the same time we can all have a laugh."

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"It's amazing to be involved again," said Mr Jones, who is also a Newport Food Festival patron. "I have been involved every year so far, and it keeps growing and growing.

"It's great to see people coming into Newport for this."

Mr Jones was also one of the judges for the Teenchef Final at Newport Market, where two teams of youngsters from Newport Youth Academy had 45 minutes to wow the judges on a budget of just £7.50.

"These people don't always have the opportunity to cook at home, so for them to get up on stage and cook in front of and audience and the judges is a big ask," said Mr Jones.

At the end of the competition, Team B, made up of Alex Sutton, Preston Wheeler and Jamie Sergeant, won with their Rugby World Cup inspired Welsh lamb burgers with wasabi fries.

"I was a bit nervous about it, but it was well worth it," said 16-year-old Mr Wheeler. "It's all about trying something new."

(Owain Mier from Riverford Organic Farmers at the Newport Food Festival.)

Mayor of Newport Cllr William Routley was one of the judges.

"I was impressed with the enthusiasm they took to the task," he said. "What they produced was absolutely wonderful.

"I tasted it all. I was first to the table and last to leave, and I think that says a lot about the quality of the food.

"I fell in love with it.

"These people are not just an inspiration to their generation, but to all of us.

"I'm very proud of them and what they achieved."

Stallholders at the event were impressed with the number of visitors to the Food Festival.

(The judges for the Teenchef finals at Newport Food Festival. christinsleyphotography.co.uk)

Owain Mier, 23, from Riverford Organic Farmers, said the event was booming, even in the first few hours of the day.

"It's incredible," he said. "There are a lot more people here than we expected and a lot more than in previous years.

"This is our main route to customers, coming and speaking to people at food festivals and shows.

"Events like this are about showing people there are alternatives for where they buy their food.

"Even though we've only been here a few hours so far, it's booming."

(Chef James Sommerin cooks beef at the Newport Food Festival  www.christinsleyphotography.co.uk)

Chris Powney, of The Naked Vegan, praised the Vegan Veggie Village for giving producers a chance to showcase their alternative products.

 “When you talk about vegan food, people’s barriers tend to go up, but when people have tried our products they can’t tell the difference,” he said.

“We normally only go to vegan-only events, but the event today has given us a chance to showcase these alternatives to the public.”

(Noodles at the Newport Food Festival. christinsleyphotography.co.uk)

Husband and wife team Jamie and Dawn Higgs launched Bee Happy Bakery in August, and the food festival was one of their first major events.

“The support we have received from the whole community has been amazing,” said Mr Higgs. “The turnout has been fantastic.”

Kathleen Bridge, 70, is from Newport and comes to the food festival every year. This year she has brought along friend Ann Tugwell.

"I found it by chance the first year it was on and have come back every year since," said Mrs Bridge. "I think it's been getting better every year."

"It's nice to see so many people in Newport," said Mrs Tugwell, 77, from Rogerstone. "This is the first one I have been to. The food looks fantastic.

"It's a pity there aren't more events like this in Newport."

(Hywel Jones patron of the Newport Food Festival. christinsleyphotography.co.uk)

Steve and Ashley Williams and Jackie Grannell, all from Newport, came to the food festival with their friend

Mrs Williams said: It’s something that should happen more often. Town is so busy.

“We’ve been looking around at everything, there’s so much going on and we don’t want to miss anything.

“It’s nice to see a vegan and vegetarian area, and there’s lots of fresh food.”

Saida Azira, 47, from Newport, said: “It’s been a nice day. Town is much busier than usual, it feels as if you are in a bigger city.

“There’s not only local people here, a lot of people are coming from all over for this.

“It’s nice to see such a diverse selection of food.”