Shrewsbury Food Festival ends after 13 years due to rising costs
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 12:44 · Archive
The Shrewsbury Food Festival, which ran for more than a decade, has been cancelled due to rising operational costs.
The Shrewsbury Food Festival, which opened to the public in 2013 and became one of Shropshire's premier calendar highlights, has been brought to an end by Shropshire Festivals, the independent family-run team that organised it.
The organisers announced the decision citing an increasingly hostile economic environment that made the event financially unviable. Post-pandemic inflation, soaring fuel prices, increased staff wages, and higher supplier tariffs have all contributed to escalating production costs. Heightened compliance demands, including required security measures, have also pushed operational expenses to unprecedented levels.
Unlike many council-funded food festivals that offer free admission, Shrewsbury Food Festival operated without local authority financial backing. The small team paid rental fees to the local council to secure the Quarry venue, relying entirely on gate receipts, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees to cover expenses. Over its thirteen years, the festival provided a platform for thousands of small businesses, local traders, chefs, and performers, and delivered a significant economic boost to Shrewsbury's town centre.
How it is being reported
- 'It can't continue': Shrewsbury Food Festival confirms end of major county event“It can’t continue in the current economic climate”Shropshire Star · 16 Oct, 12:17
- Rising costs lead to the end of the Shrewsbury Food FestivalAfter more than a decade of serving up culinary delights and attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Quarry, Shrewsbury Food Festival has come to an end.Shropshire Live · 16 Oct, 12:09
In this story: Shrewsbury Food Festival · Shropshire Festivals · Shrewsbury · Quarry · Shropshire
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