THE decision to move the popular Thame Food Festival to the Thame Show ground, has divided opinion in the town between those who agree it’s a necessary and a good idea, and those who believe the move will spoil the event or even endanger its future.
The organisers have also announced that the show will run over two days, including into the evening of the Saturday, to enable the food festival ‘to thrive, expand and offer an even better visitor experience’.
Outgrown the town
Patron and Festival Director, Lotte Duncan, explained the reasoning behind the proposed changes: “The festival has outgrown the town. It simply cannot fit anymore stalls, stages and people in it on the day. And the festival has to expand to survive.
“We really want Thame town centre and local business’s to continue their involvement with the food festival – it would be great to see them representing their shops up at the show ground – and we have a fabulous idea planned on just how they can do that.”
The announcement on the festival’s facebook page, started a sustained dialogue throughout most of day between those who welcomed the changes, those who were unhappy about the proposals and the festival organisers.
Here are just some of the responses on social media to the announcement that the show will be leaving Thame town centre and moving to the show ground on the outskirts of the town:
“I’ve just moved to Thame and I visited the food festival with my teenage children, one of which has limited mobility due to a chronic hip condition…. we struggled as it was so packed…. we couldn’t comfortably stroll through the stalls and had to leave after an hour as there was no where to sit and eat!
We would welcome more room to walk around at leisure and the festival could grow in size and popularity as it deserves to.
It’s a fantastic event … good luck with the planning.”
“They could extend the stalls further along the high street. This would spread the volume of people and be easier to walk along. This must stay in the Town. Brings people to shops and pubs and creates a great atmosphere amongst shop owners, pubs, restaurants and the stall holders visiting that day! It’s a Town attraction and should stay that way. I own a shop at the end of the high street where there is plenty of space to extend the stalls. Thame high street is what this day is all about!”
“I wish you all the success and hope that it thrives for you on the show ground”
“I think it’s fantastic. The last two years have been so jammed we’ve not been able to browse the stalls and nearly ended up getting trampled this year. So I’m very glad it’s moving to a bigger venue.”
“It’s such a shame to move it out of the town centre. Unfortunately I think the show ground will have a detrimental effect on the food festival, especially if the weather’s not great. Maybe the way it was laid out this year needs looking at. It was all squashed up one end. Very disappointed.”
Losing ‘the essence’ of the show
“Oh dear what a shame and how very disappointing. I think you’ll be loosing the essence of what makes this such a great event. And should it rain, then I dread to imagine the state of the site. End of an era I feel. I guess all good things come to an end.”
“Very sad news and shows it’s about quantity not quality. A unique selling point being in the town centre gave it a homely feel and showed visitors how great out town centre is. Why couldn’t the Southern Road Rec be used to expand? Or down North Street and encompass the Cattle Market?
I can see this going the way of Thame Show…a sad demise – I certainly won’t enter to then pay premium prices for what I admit is great food.”
“I think it’s a shame it will have left the town. I came for the first time this year and what I liked about it was the way it intermingled with the local shops and pubs. In a show ground it will be the same as any other festival.”
“Let’s give it a chance folks, I have reservations too, but I really hope it can make the transition and maybe offer locals a cheaper entry to keep our support.”
Lotte concluded: “We are very excited about next year, have some amazing ideas and are looking forward to keeping Thame Food Festival a sustainable event for the future.”
The dates for Thame Food Festival are Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1, 2017.
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