CROWDS of more than 10,000 thronged the streets of Burnham at the weekend for what has become the largest food festival in Somerset.

Now in its third year, the bi-annual food festival is one of Burnham’s biggest events with visitors from across the country sampling the foodie delights on Saturday.

Festival organisers Beverley Milner Simonds and Sarah Milner Simonds told the Weekly News they couldn’t be happier with the event.

Beverley said: “We’re extremely proud of how the festival has developed.

“To see so many people come into the town and enjoy a full day of the food extravaganza that was on offer is brilliant.”

And despite the huge amount of work involved in staging the event, Beverley admitted that they still enjoy it.

She added: “The festival really is a joy to put on when we get such positive feedback from visitors and traders.

“We aim to put on a high-quality event that includes something for anyone who is hungry or thirsty."

This year’s festival was moved to the autumn to coincide with halfterm in the hope it would attract more visitors.

Fellow festival director Sarah said: “We made the decision to move the festival to work with the local holiday parks and those arriving in the South-West for a break with friends and family.

“Talking to visitors around the festival there were people from the Home Counties, London, Manchester and the Midlands as well as a lot of locals enjoying a day out.”

The festival, which started in 2012, has expanded to include three large street markets, five indoor venues, a demo stage, competitions and live music, and is now strengthening its links with the farming community by including livestock and farm machinery.

The KDS Fresh Ideas Stage saw chefs tempt taste buds and teach the audiences few new tricks during their demonstrations.

There were four competitions during the day and the first to announce their winners was the Great Burnham Brew-Off with Graham Holland crowned Champion Brewer by sponsor Balliihoo for his Damson and Bullace Gin.

Next up was a new Hot Wings Challenge hosted by the Clifton Chilli Club and supported by Passion & Soul BBQ, in which ten competitors fought it out to strip 12 furiously hot chicken wings down to the bone in the quickest time. 

Local, visitors and festival director, Sarah, fought against the extreme heat with Martin Palmer taking top spot.

Hot on the heels of the wings was The Great Burnham Burn-Off with an audience of over 1000 watching last year's champion, Marc Brion go head-to-head with Chris Williams.

Both men ate the world's hottest chilli, the Carolina Reaper (twice) and then fought it out in a speed eating challenge Marc once again reclaiming his title.

The final competiton saw amateur and professional bakers battle it out in the Great Burnham Bake Off.

Local baker Dusica Roberts was crowned professional champion for her autumnal carrot cake with a blown leaves scene.

Other winners were Kate Heappey as the Champion Individual baker, The Winstones in the family class and Trish Maunder in the Technical Challenge. 

Regular entrant and familiar local face Steve Bird was rewarded with a winners certificate for his gluten free bread.

Commenting on the success of the festival Mayor of Burnham Cllr Martin Cox said: “I was asked to judge the Best in Show competition and it took me over three hours to visit every trader.

“It is great to have Burnham-on- Sea put on the map for all the right reasons.”

After a busy weekend Beverley and Sarah have already started looking towards next year’s event.

“We’ve just finished the clear-up and we’re looking forward now to make sure next year’s festival is bigger and better,” said Beverley.

“We’ve already taken reservations from traders making sure they’ve got their space booked and we’re listening to the feedback from visitors and traders so we have a few ideas on how to improve it in 2015.”

Anyone wishing to leave feedback or volunteer to help out at the next Food Festival can contact the team on bosfoodfest@gmail.com

 

For all the pictures from the festival click here.