Darwen to hold three food festivals this year

Last year, Sunnyhurst councillor Brian Taylor was given a £2,500 budget to showcase the town’s culinary offerings and thousands turned out on a wet October day to sample what was on offer.

And at a meeting of the town council this week, Cllr Taylor asked for his budget to be pushed up to £4,000 so three separate food festivals could be put on.

At the monthly meeting at Darwen Town Hall, Cllr Taylor said: “I have already got approval for £2,000 to put on one festival.

“But I can put on three for £4,000.

“There would be one in the summer, one on Saturday, September 5 and we would follow that with a Michaelmas market in the run-up to Christmas.”

Cllr Taylor said he intended to expand the event to other parts of Darwen, including Bridge Street.

He said: “Last time, Bridge Street felt a bit left out so we will do something to make sure they are involved.

“We are getting good support again, including from the Bridgewater pub who put up the marquee last year.”

Cllr Dave Smith said: “The food festival last year was excellent and nobody had a bad word to say about it.

“Everything was god about it.

“I think, given we have £13,000 spare in the budget, we should do it.”

Cllr Roy Davies asked why only the Bridgewater was getting involved and asked if Cllr Taylor would be approaching the other big town centre pubs, including JD Wetherspoon.

Cllr Taylor said: “I wish, but when we approach them we just get a straight bat.

“With the money being spent in there from Darwen you would think they would want to put something back in but the don’t.”

After the meeting, Cllr Taylor said the three festivals would all have seasonal themes.

He said: “Garden centres will be invited to put displays out along Bridge Street and that is part of how we are looking to involve that part of the town centre.”

A date for the summer festival has not been set and the Michaelmas market is expected to take place in late November.