Festival President, Lady Caroline Cranbrook, commented, “The 2009 Food and Drink Festival was undoubtedly the most successful yet – more producers, more events, more countryside organisations taking part and, above all, more people coming to share the experience of local food and drink. The weekend at Snape had many highlights, but perhaps best of all was that so many people came to enjoy our wonderful festival in its magical setting of river, reedbeds and historic Maltings. Everyone will have taken away our message of ‘Buy Local! Grow It! Cook It! Eat It!’. The Orford and Yoxford primary schoolchildren certainly showed the way when they demonstrated their cooking skills on stage alongside famous chefs such as Mark Hix, Tom Aikens, Tom Parker-Bowles, Matthew Fort, Rose Prince, Tommi Myers and Sheila Dillon who chaired an inspirational discussion forum.”

New to the Festival this year was Suffolk’s first raised pie competition. Out of 17 competitors, Lawson’s Delicatessen of Aldeburgh took the ‘Pie of Pies’ top prize, with Metfield Bakery from Snape as runner-up.

More than ever the Festival had a friendly, family orientated atmosphere, something which always impresses the visiting chefs and journalists. It’s a very inclusive event, with over 90 exhibitors of Suffolk produce going out of their way to co-operate and compete with, rather than against, each other. Not only could the public purchase local food to take home in their jute Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival shopping bags, but there was a range of stalls selling food to be eaten in the beautiful riverside setting; locally caught Aldeburgh cod and chips, Red Poll burgers, locally made sausages, salads using locally grown salad leaves, spit roasted local venison, Mexican and Indian food, all things chocolatey from Chocstar, freshly made to order sweet and savoury crepes and all washed down with locally brewed Adnams ales, Aspall cyder or local apple juice.

The Festival is non profit-making and would not be the success it is without the help of many individuals, and particularly the sponsors: Adnams, Suffolk County Council, Marks & Spencer, Suffolk Coasts & Heaths, EEDA, Snape Maltings, Thorpeness & Aldeburgh Hotels Ltd, Maple Farm Kelsale, Paddy & Scott’s, Aspalls, NFU Mutual Ipswich and Orwell Trucks. Organisers are also indebted to Aldeburgh Music for allowing them to use their beautiful buildings and grounds. This outstanding support, along with that of producers, food businesses, countryside organisations and, above all, the many visitors who attend, has turned the Festival into a nationally important event which was featured in the local and national press.

"There isn't a better, more enjoyable, more educational, more beautiful food and drink festival in Britain" - Sheila Dillon, Radio 4

‘the most significant food festival in Britain’ Rose Prince', The Daily Telegraph

‘There isn’t a better, more enjoyable, more educational, more beautiful food and drink festival in Britain.’ Sheila Dillon, BBC Radio 4 Food Programme

‘Jovial, delicious and informative to boot, all in a splendid setting.’ Fergus Henderson of St. John, London

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