AMT Public

Thousands of foodies flocked to the gourmet destination that is the Malton Food Lovers Festival in May, and focused on tasting and buying the finest food, beer and fun the region offers.  The Festival is all about top quality local produce and the region’s exceptional food and drink producers and retailers were out in force for this third celebration event.

Seven award winning and Michelin starred local chefs cooked up a dozen sensational dishes from seasonal, local produce, and there were over 60 stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, fish, cheese, cakes, ice cream, honey, herbs and oil and much more.  The additional Beer Festival and Real Ale bar, the first time it has been part of the Festival sold all its 1500 pints to an appreciative crowd. The Festival was supported by funding from Ryedale District Council.

Malton is fast becoming a town to do business in, and  any food or catering business wanting to expand or to start up,  can be part of this swell of success and recognition.  It is an economically vibrant, attractive and well serviced market town, providing an outstanding location for any potential business initiative.  One real example is the breakthrough decision to instigate two hours’ free parking in the central market place. Whilst similar towns are expressing concerns about empty shops, Malton has seen six new retail businesses opening recently, one food, three clothing and one art gallery.

Sarah Lally-Marley, Ambassador for Malton said: “The Festival was a fantastic success, a real triumph for the entire town.  It is such an inspirational place to work, and we think it is now the perfect platform for would be entrepreneurs to start their own business, whatever the type or size”.

The pictures give a flavor of the Malton Food Festival . From the top, the pictures show the variety of stalls at the festival; the BeezNeez honey stall; demonstration cooking by James Mackenzie; Sandhutton asparagus; demonstration cooking by Stephanie Moon.