RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has thrown his weight behind efforts to run a scaled down Clitheroe Food Festival in September. The annual event, normally held in August and based around Castle Street and the market, was cancelled for the second year running earlier this month because of the coronavirus pandemic. But now newly-elected West Bradford and Grindleton Conservative Cllr Kevin Horkin has vowed to save it with a slimmed-down festival in September to be held on Clitheroe market car park as well as the adjacent street. The event traditionally draws thousands of visitors to the town. Mr Evans said: “The Ribble Valley economy relies heavily on the hospitality sector, and holding even a scaled back food festival would be a tremendous jab in the arm for local businesses.
RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has thrown his weight behind efforts to run a scaled down Clitheroe Food Festival in September. The annual event, normally held in August and based around Castle Street and the market, was cancelled for the second year running earlier this month because of the coronavirus pandemic. But now newly-elected West Bradford and Grindleton Conservative Cllr Kevin Horkin has vowed to save it with a slimmed-down festival in September to be held on Clitheroe market car park as well as the adjacent street. The event traditionally draws thousands of visitors to the town. Mr Evans said: “The Ribble Valley economy relies heavily on the hospitality sector, and holding even a scaled back food festival would be a tremendous jab in the arm for local businesses.
Clitheroe Food Festival could go ahead after all A much-loved food festival that was cancelled earlier this week due to the coronavirus pandemic, could now go ahead, according to councillors. On Monday, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s community services committee, Ricky Newmark said it was with great reluctance that they had decided not to go ahead with this year’s Clitheroe Food Festival due to the challenge of holding it safely . The annual Clitheroe Food Festival showcases the best produce Lancashire has to offer and usually brings thousands from all over the country to the town. However, on Friday, Cllr Kevin Horkin, councillor for West Bradford and Grindleton, told the Lancashire Telegraph that the food festival would be going ahead in September, albeit in a scaled-down manner.