Page 7 - Town & Around - March 2024

Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net Town & Around March 2024 7
West Norfolk Food & Drink Festival
“It’s all about community & and breathing life into the High Street”
ollowing on from launching an March 2024 along Hunstanton High Street. who live in and around Hunstanton to
exclusive resident’s discount card for “We have managed to secure the attendance reengage with the businesses on the High
FHunstanton & and the local community, of some fantastic Norfolk producers,” said Street and to show off to others that there is
there is exciting news from the Norfolk Deli Mark. Every business attending is a small more to see here other than the sea.
as it works on its biggest project to date, Norfolk business. We have everybody from With approximately 30+ traders expected
which it is doing with the support of The distilleries breweries, and vineyards, as well on the high street alongside all the existing
Hunstanton Advisory Group, The Hunstanton as businesses making doggie treats, businesses in Hunstanton, there will be a lot
Events Team, The Town Mayor, Town cake/bakes & and sweet things, porridge, to do and see. The first event takes place along
Council as well as The Borough & County honey, chili sauces, chocolatiers, jam makers, Hunstanton High Street on 17th March 2024
Council. and more. For those interested Mark has starting at 10 am through to 3 pm. Details on
It’s next to impossible to escape the fact added a page to his website https://norfolk- who will be at the event and where you can
that a reduction of high street footfall leads to deli.co.uk/pages/wnfdf which will be find them can be found at https://norfolk-
business closures which in turn results in even regularly updated as more producers confirm deli.co.uk/pages/wnfdf Details can also be
lower footfall. As a member of Hunstanton’s their attendance. found on Instagram
Advisory Group and The Hunstanton Event Mark also entered this idea into the “Love https://www.instagram.com/westnorfolkfood
Committee Mark Kacary (Managing Director your Town” bid run by the Economic drinkfest/
of The Norfolk Deli) has long felt that in line Development teams from County & Borough “Norwich & North Norfolk have for many
with the opinions of many retail experts, the Council. The brief being to have an idea that years been the traditional locations for
high street needs to offer its customers (the would deliver life into an area and bring with farmers' markets, and food festivals, in
public) an experience. something they do not it some economic benefits to the local comparison it’s hard to think of many events
or cannot get in the supermarket. community, having been shortlisted he had to like this in West Norfolk,” said Mark. “I felt
Mark believes that the high street should be deliver his address in a “Dragons-Den” style it was about time we do what we have been
the beating heart of the town, it should be format to approximately 8 people. The idea doing for the last 10 years and find a way to
where people meet their friends to catch up succeeded and a small grant has been awarded showcase the extraordinary range of produce
for a gossip, or to visit a retailer who always to help launch the project, a grant for which made in Norfolk to the people of Hunstanton
goes that extra mile to source an item that we are incredibly thankful. and the wider area, we are hoping for fine
many a corporate business doesn’t. “The high Something Mark feels is very important is weather and for as many people as possible to
street is the soul of a town and without a that the event is not seen to be a profit-making come and support this”.
living, breathing healthy high street you’ll venture. This event could not have happened If you are a Food and drink producer
struggle to find a real sense of community”. without the support of a lot of people, located in Norfolk wishing to be part of this
An idea germinating since the back end of including the town mayor, town, borough, and event email Mark at The Norfolk Deli
2022 is coming to fruition on the 17th of county council as well as the support of the mark@norfolk-deli.co.uk for an application
businesses in the high street. We want people form.