Food and craft fair attracts crowds

Published 5 Aug 2010 09:30 1 Comment

THE second Argyll and Bute Food and Craft Fair was a great success... although the turnout of food producers was 'disappointing'.

The event, organised by the Friends of the Victoria Hall and held in the Victoria Hall, attracted more than 400 visitors and showcased some of the area's best producers.

The stalls featured, soaps and beauty products, jewellery, paintings and crafts and hand carved rocking horses as well home made shortbread, Greek olives and olive products and fabulous cakes.

Helensburgh's branch of Enable ran a stall selling cards and gifts, the Town Twinning Association organised a tombola stall and the Rosslea Hotel at Rhu were in charge of the tea room which was busy throughout the day. The Outside Broadcast Unit from YOUR Radio were broadcasting live from the Hall all day.

A wonderful hamper was donated by Michael and Anna Curley of the Buffet Shop and was won by Mrs Joan Paterson from Cardross.

Tony Dance, of Friends of the Victoria Hall, said: "We were very pleased with the event which attracted around 450 visitors throughout the day.

"The crafters were delighted with their sales on the day and are very pleased with the warm welcome they get in the Victoria Hall and from Helensburgh people.

"We supported two local groups on the day too, Helensburgh Twinnng Association, which had a great success with its fund raising tombola, and Enable who sold hand crafted cards and raised money for the local branch."

He continued: "We were sorry that this year that food stalls proved difficult to attract to the fair and we will obviously have to spread our net wider for future events.

"We are now planning to hold two events a year to promote the hall, one in late Spring and our next new venture which will be a Christmas Craft Fair on Friday, November 12.

"Again, we were very grateful to local businesses who supported us, Anna and Michael at the Buffet Shop, Clyde Whiskies, Adolfo of Riverdrive Studios and of course the team from Your Radio and the Helensburgh Advertiser for their help with advertising.

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This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 05 Aug 10

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• 

  AndyMc
  7 posts
  Aug 22, 09:21
  Report comment

  Having attended this event then I can only say that if this is the best that the local food and craft producers have to offer and the standard to which the organisers of a bi-annual event aspire to then it is surprising that it attracted as many as 450 people.
  
  As it was billed as a 'Food and Craft Fair" I had assumed that food, being mentioned first, would have had pride of place. Instead I was greeted with a paltry 3 food stalls, one of which lead me to search for the local olive groves but to no avail. Of the remaining 2 the outstanding producer was the Rainbow Cakes stand.
  
  Of the remaining non-food stalls there was the usual round of soap, prints, and 'handmade' cards which showed little art or craft and often appeared to be mass manufactured.
  
  Hope remains that the next event in November will be much improved, but doubt remains.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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