Horsham food festival to be held on-line amid pandemic

Traditionally, Horsham’s Big Nibble marks the launch of a month-long celebration of local food and drink businesses in the district.

But this year, because of the coronavirus outbreak, the event will be held ‘virtually’ from Friday September 4 to Wednesday September 30.

Horsham Council cabinet member of the local economy Paul Clarke said: “I am delighted that despite the virus, the council and its various suppliers and partners are still able to stage this important event in our events calendar.

“This event will build on the commercial success and public reputation of the Horsham Big Nibble and Horsham District Food and Drink Festival to create a large online audience promoting local food and drink offerings.

“It will also capitalise on the goodwill and popularity achieved by local suppliers in supporting the community through Covid-19.

“The online content programme will increase awareness, bookings and sales for an amazing array of local businesses who have worked tirelessly to adapt their businesses at this time to continue to serve the public.”

Paula Daly, community fundraiser at Horsham Matters said: “Horsham District Foodbank is delighted to have been chosen as the Virtual Big Nibble Charity Partner.

“Our foodbank has seen the immediate impact of Covid-19 upon people in our local community, delivering nearly 4,000 emergency food parcels since the start of the pandemic.

“Every donation of food and money that our partnership brings in will contribute so much towards keeping the foodbank running and enabling our charity to support people in crisis.”

On-line content will feature chef demonstrations, online trails, business videos and recipes, and a unique competition for the public to submit their foodie photos of the dishes they have created with the chance to win vouchers to spend on a meal experience at one of the featured restaurants and featured suppliers/producers.

The online programming will include support for the promotion of Steyning’s Food and Drink Festival and expanded Horsham Markets during September.

Four foodie themed weeks have been created for the month of the festival: Friday 4 – Thursday 10 September: Horsham Markets and their producers/suppliers;

Friday 11 – Thursday 17 September: Future Food & Sustainability to include vegan/vegetarian/alternative food sources/healthy living/sustainability; Friday 18 – Thursday 24 September - Local Produce – to include local producers/brewers/growers; Friday 25 – Wednesday 30 September - International Food Festival – to include many different foods from around the world, and the restaurants cooking and supplying them, in the district.

Find out more at [email protected]