EMSWORTH
FOOD
FESTIVAL
  Company No. 5708761


SEPTEMBER

2009
 


EMSWORTH FOOD FESTIVAL - Feedback.................

info@emsworthfoodfestival.co.uk


Feedback subsequent to the Directors' Decision not to have a festival in 2008

 Via Website contact form:

 

I am:

Your Comments/Feedback:

1

a visitor

What a great shame, but it must be difficult for locals who only get hassle out of it. However, it makes me go back to shop in Emsworth after the festival, and I frequently do so.

2

an Emsworth Business

I am hugely disappointed by the news of the 'gap year' and equally concerned by the consistent reports of the festival being moved to Goodwood for 2009. Did no-one listen to the overwhelming support and enthusiasm expressed by 99% of those who cared enough to attend the 'wash-up' meeting?!  WHAT A SHAM!!

3

a visitor

This is a great shame - I see this as the thin end of the wedge

4

a visitor

It seems to me that the Festival is a victim of it's own success. I do feel that it is a wonderful event which, as is acknowledged, has brought much success to Emsworth on the whole. It does seem a shame that the local population - residents and businesses - cannot 'bear with a situation which does good' for 3 days of the year + set up. On the volunteer side I do know that duties always fall 'to the few' in everything voluntary. I thoroughly enjoyed this year and will be back - in 2009 - so be it.

5

an Emsworth Resident

I have sent an email to you. I am committed to Alton Show (Agricultural) at the moment organising all aspects of this event.  I am also organising the Manpower for Emsworth Show. If my circumstances change I will contact you with an offer of help.

6

an Emsworth Resident

How disappointing that the festival is not going to happen in 2008

7

an Exhibitor

Sorry to hear of the "gap" year, but having read your press release understand the reasons why. We were unable to attend last year so we're doubly disappointed as it is a fabulous festival. Good luck to you all for the future.

8

an Emsworth Resident

I should like to express my disappointment in the Festival being canceled next year. My husband and I have been to most of them

9

a visitor

 There did not seem to be the same mix of stalls as the previous year and the new lay out felt so wrong.  We do understand the reasons for spreading the festival apart as it was probably to ease the flow of the crowds.  We do understand the frustrations of some of the shop owners in the town when the festival is on but find we do spend our money equally between the shops and the stalls if the shop sells items that are of interest then I will always go in for a look around.  Please do not turn Emsworth food festival into The isle of Wight garlic festival this would be a shame as it was a wasted journey over on the ferry to what can only be described as a market which actually only had 1 stall selling garlic goods the other stalls consisted of window sellmans caravan sellsman market tatt and boring shows.  Please please do not stop or change something so good.

10

an Emsworth Business

I am so saddened and amazed at the decision to not do the Food festival next year. How can we abandon the best thing that has happened for Emsworth businesses ever? This completely is marketing strategies gone mad are they are really pleased to see Emsworth booming and are accepting of the slight temporary inconvenience of the festival. Please reconsider. Don't let a few vociferous moaners ruin it for us all. Just take a look at Havant town centre to see how easily we could go the same way.

11

a visitor

I came to the festival this year for the first time and really enjoyed it.  In particular we enjoyed the low key - non corporate feel to the festival - it felt unique and not just another rolled out festival.  When you are considering changes and improvements please please do not turn Emsworth into just another venue for festival sideshows and stalls to turn up to.  I used to live next to the Bristol balloon festival site and I saw the festival go to something very low key to something so big

12

a visitor

I am staggered to read some traders feel they lose out for three days. If it were not for the festival some people would never have visited Emsworth.  We come back throughout the year because of the friendly atmosphere which emanates. One can only assume it is a small minority of residents who resent outsiders

13

 an Emsworth Business I find this decision to be outrageous. I have nothing to gain from the festival as my business does not have a direct link to it. However as a resident not to be at least consulted on whether it should go ahead I find draconian.

This festival is one of the high spots of the south coast and is rated I would think by 99% of the community as a great success and important for Emsworth its self to promote tourism in the south as a whole.

I understand the potential reasons you have high lighted for not holding it but they can be only in support of a minor number of people or business's.

I feel sure that this is not the committees view of the festival and feel that this should have been put not only to the full committee but the community should be given the option to opt in or out of the annual festival.

Frankly I think if we do not have this festival then we as a community are missing a trick, and will take years to recover from the good work that every one has put into it, to put it to the number one annual village event in the south.
 

14

 a visitor I am staggered to read some traders feel they lose out for three days. If it were not for the festival some people would never have visited Emsworth. We come back throughout the year because of the friendly atmosphere which emanates. One can only assume it is a small minority of residents who resent outsiders
 

15

 a visitor A tremendous disappointment. For 3 days a year, the traders and residents of the immediate area need to get a reality check out of 365. Selfish and pathetic they are. How food traders in the town can ask for the Festival to be moved I cannot comprehend, perhaps they should not be trading anyway If they don't like it, then close the shop and go away for 3 days. This is a big loss to the area for September in 2008.

16

 an Emsworth Resident I am dismayed and deeply disappointed that such a wonderful event as the Emsworth Food Festival has been cancelled for next year. Thanks to the extremely hard-working committee, this event has become a roaring success, one of the most respected and recommended events in the south of England. It has also had a great effect on the village throughout the rest of the year, with visitors making return trips time and again.  We, ourselves, have visitors from overseas who plan their trips to the UK specifically to be with us in September to visit the Emsworth Food Festival.  Is there no chance for a "re-think" as this decision seems to have been "steam-rollered" through, and a year's gap could certainly damage the popularity of the Festival.

17

 an Exhibitor I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to the Emsworth Food organisers for helping our local company. We had a fantastic weekend and we can’t wait until the next show. The organisers do a smashing job each year, it is just a shame that there won’t be another event until 2009.  Thank you again for letting us be a part of the weekend.  

18

 none of the above As a director of Ludlow Marches Food Festival, I would like to give my support to Emsworth Food Festival. I have never visited Emsworth, but reading through this website and meeting a few people, I gather it has a similar "feel" to Ludlow's event. Both have grown organically, organised by local people to support  good food producers and the local economy.  Ludlow also has many retailers and residents who would say that during the festival there are many inconveniences and difficulties involved in accessing their properties. Indeed for nearly all retailers even the food businesses such as myself (a baker), sales that weekend are actually quite low!  But surely the point of the festival is to bring publicity to the town and stimulate the local economy, over the whole year. Many visitors to the festival will return at other times having sampled a little of what the town has to offer. Countless accommodation providers will be full, and thousands of pounds will circulate amongst local business who employ local people.  If anyone from Emsworth would like to come up to Ludlow to discuss any of the issues you are facing, I am sure that we wil be only to peased to share some of our experiences with you. Ludlow's Festival organiser is Beth Heath. Her contact details are on our website; www.foodfestival.co.uk 
We wish you well, 
 
19 a visitor so pleased you are taking a breather to take stock of comments and local issues. I hope the fab firework show still continues ; it was magnificent this year with the band playing as well!I think we could expand stalls to st james church area and force people to use underpass to get to other side of main road with barriers from rounabout to the traffic lights by mill pond; dont see why french market was part of Emsworth Food festival though; they have their own markets at other times; think Emsworth Food Festival!!
 
20 an Emsworth Business I am hugely disappointed by the news of the 'gap year' and equally concerned by the consistent reports of the festival being moved to Goodwood for 2009. Did no-one listen to the overwhelming support and enthusiasm expressed by 99% of those who cared enough to attend the 'wash-up' meeting?!  WHAT A SHAM!!
 
21 an Emsworth Resident I was devastated to hear that the 2008 Food Festival has been cancelled. I have spoken to countless people since the announcement, residents, visitors and shopkeepers alike, about this decision and have not met one single person yet who is in support of the "gap year" decision. I think this is a huge mistake - visitors from further afield may well choose another annual event to attend next year and then not bother coming back to Emsworth in 2009, especially if they think that the Festival they know and love has been radically altered. Please rethink the decision - canvass the local population and don't just cowtow to the very small minority of whingers who did not even bother to voice their opinions in public at the "wash-up" meeting. The majority of the ordinary folk of Emsworth really value and love this Festival - it strengthens the Community, brings us prosperity and is great for the younger residents. 2008 will be a bleak year without it.
 
22 an Emsworth Resident First of all. Well done for another excellent year of the EFF.  However, what a shame that the economy of the Village and the pleasure given to thousands of people can be altered by the few people in charge even after a resounding yes at the Washdown Meeting .  If the Directors cannot stand the sucess then now is the time to STAND DOWN.  At least give us all a choice.  Hold a referendum NOW before it is too late with a plain simple question....'YES' or 'NO' TO EFF 2008.
23 an Emsworth Resident please, please do come back in 2009 and I should be delighted to help.
24 an Emsworth Business Fantastic event it would be a shame for it not to take place in 2008 . There will no doubt be a lot of disapointed people!.well done to all those who did a fantastic job in organising the event ,fingers crossed for a change of mind !???
25 an Emsworth Resident How easy it is to destroy fun! The phrase "vociferous moaning minority" seems right.  In 2008 they would have had an extra day to be miserable
26 a visitor so pleased you are taking a breather to take stock of comments and local issues. I hope the fab firework show still continues 
27 an Exhibitor As an exhibitor for the last few years, we are bitterly disappointed that the Festival will not take place in 2008. As the foremost food festival for the South of the UK, and unquestionably one of our highlights of the year, it is astonishing to learn that a porportion of the inhabitants of Emsworth find that the remaining 362 days are not enough to restore or recover tranquillity and calm. (Other events are already re-positioning to use the 'Emsworth' dates.) A heartfelt thank you to the brilliant volunteer organisers who have done such a great job through these past years - we really will miss joining you all in beautiful Emsworth in 2008.
28 a visitor As someone has already said in the feedback the Festival is a victim of its own success. The main problem is the number of people attending jammed into so little space but I would NOT like to see it moved to Goodwood. It would then lose its atmosphere and be difficult to access for those like me without cars. Our normal alternative i.e. public transport would also be very difficult. The shops of Emsworth itself would lose out. Wasn't the Festival started originally for the commercial benefit of the town?!   I have a specific criticism which I would like to see addressed concerning the official guide to the festival. There was a list of exhibitors in 2007 which was well and good but, although there were brief descriptions of their businesses, amazingly there were no contact details given. Could we please at the very least have their phone numbers but also their postal and e-mail addresses as well.
29 a visitor we have visited the village today (Sat 5th Jan) and it was mentioned that , there will be no festival this year, what a shame, we came last year and really enjoyed the day, people are so friendly in Emsworth, the only sad thing was, that there was a great deal of dog fowling around, such a pity
30 an Emsworth Resident Perhaps some of the businesses and residents who are "outraged" or demanding that the committee "stand down" will put themselves forward to be active helpers in 2009.  Also following on from the article in The News, I worry that removing all of the "high-end" elements such as demos, wine tasting, competitions etc.. to be left with just stalls and fireworks will turn the event into a farmers market.
31 an Emsworth Resident I have read the report in The News and on the web site and am very disappointed with the decision not to have a festival in 2008. I appreciate it causes disruption and some residents are inconvenienced. It is, however, three days a year and the benefits far outweigh the disruption. The fact that Emsworth businesses thrive is partly due to the festival. It is a pleasure shopping in Emsworth because it is always busy and active. Would these residents prefer a deserted town with boarded up shops? There can't be many towns that support two butchers and two greengrocers etc. With the planned expansion of Tesco in Havant this is a time when we need to support local business and the festival does this.  I hope that with a year off it doesn't lose momentum and die altogether.
32 a visitor I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT THERE WILL BE NO FESTIVAL THIS YEAR DUE TO THE FEW NARROW MINDED PEOPLE OF EMSWORTH.  WE HAVE BEEN TO EVERY ONE AND HAVE REALLY ENJOYED IT.  WE HAVE BEEN SHOPPING IN EMSWORTH AND HAD MEALS THERE AS WELL.  RATHER SCALING BACK THE SHOW IT SHOULD BE EXPANDED. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WELL DONE TO ALL THAT HELP ORGANISE THE SHOW'S SO FAR .
33 an Emsworth Resident

Congratulations Ms Bowerman, this year's Festival was, as ever, superbly organized and executed and great fun was had by all who came. However, it does seem that DEMOCRACY has bypassed Emsworth and we have been given no say in the death of the Festival for 2008. (I suspect you have killed it once and for all.) The strain of the work involved must have been tremendous for all you Organisers and it is quite understandable that you want to call a halt, but this should have been put to the people to come up with fresh blood to volunteer to carry on, albeit in a slightly different vein. Our Pubs and Restaurants will be out of pocket by thousands of pounds as will many businesses as the Festival brings visitors all year round once the charm of the place has been seen.  II fear us 'great majority' do not really want £6,000 spent on a Celebrity Chef, only to get a few hundred pounds back in entrance fees. We don't really care about Champagne, most of us cannot afford it ! and I dread to think how much those huge marquees cost ! Wine tasting is fine. and the fireworks are great. We are ordinary folk, with good taste and a Fiesta sounds  GREAT. IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF HANDING THE REINS TO SOME FRESH FACES.

 

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Email via website:

----- Original Message -----

From:An Emsworth Business

Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 6:35 PM

Subject: Emsworth Food Festival

 

Dear Lulu and committee,

I am really sad, upset and incredulous about the cancellation of the food festival! This is just at the time when all the local businesses are facing the toughest trading conditions of the last decade and we abandon our one major hope for keeping Emsworth alive and kicking! I came to the wash up meeting and there was overwhelming support for the festival, why the turn around?

What can be done to reverse this terrible decision, it makes no sense at all! Please do not give up in the face of a very few very loud complainers, who seem to have got all the press coverage and do not represent anything like the majority view. I am really gutted! We have all experienced the “food festival Effect” with Emsworth booming in the last few years while our neighbours Havant town centre and Westbourne have been decimated by the effect of the supermarkets and the Internet.

Please reconsider, there is still time!

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: An Exhibitor

Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 9:52 AM

Subject: RE: Emsworth Food Festival News

 

Dear Sirs,  Thank you for your email.  We were devasted to note that Emsworth will not take place in 2008.  It has been our favourite and most profitable show for several years now, and we so enjoy coming.  It is the first event we write in our calendar, and this has really thrown us.  However, best of luck to you all, and thank you so much for the help and support you have always given to Cocina Ceramics and we are very much looking forward to coming in 2009, if we are invited.  Best wishes for Christmas and 2008. Kind regards Paul Binmore and Ruth Plane at Cocina.

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: An Emsworth Resident

Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 6:07 PM

Subject: Re: Emsworth Food Festival News
 

Sorry to hear that the EFF will not take place next year, it was a great show this year, with the volunteers working to make the show "go" for everybody.

Thanks to ALL of you.

 

 

 

 

From: An Emsworth Resident

Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 5:15 PM

Subject: Re: Emsworth Food Festival News
 

Thank you for this clear and comprehensive press release. I would only hope that the planning deliberations will be on the positive and what is important to change for the future success of the FF in 2009 and not to dwell too long trying to change opinions of the negative few.

 

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: An Emsworth Resident

Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 7:10 AM

Subject: 2008 Food Festival
 

Dear Team

 

I read your press release with great sadness but understand the reasons for your decisions. The annual Food Festival was a great event and in my opinion an asset to Emsworth for traders and residents. 

 

For three days of the year there was a little inconvenience for residents in the town centre but this was far outweighed by the pleasure given to so many in experiencing local and international food. Visitors also discovered Emsworth and I am sure there are many returners who find the delight of our excellent shops and other attractions. I have personally found this to be the case at Bookends where I work part time. 

 

I was Show Secretary for the EHS for nine years and am now  Show Secretary of Alton Show (now doing my sixth one) and I know how the organisation of events takes over your life.  I hope that you can form a team to run Emsworth Food Festival 2009 and if I resign from Alton I will offer to help you but at the moment I do not have the time to do so as I also have family commitments.

 

Thank you all for the work you have done in organising the Emsworth Food Festival and I wish you every success in the future.
 
 

 

 

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