THOUSANDS of people flocked to Dunoon last weekend as the town’s first Taste Dunoon food and drink festival exceeded expectations.
Officially opened by Scotland’s National Chef Gary Maclean, the free two-day festival attracted almost 4,500 visitors on Saturday alone. Traders enjoyed strong sales throughout the weekend as visitors stocked up on local food and drink, with many describing the event as a huge boost for the town.
Gary said: “It was a pleasure to be part of the first Taste Dunoon Food and Drink Festival. The atmosphere was incredible and it was fantastic to see so many people celebrating local food and drink. I was proud to showcase some of the outstanding produce from the region.”
The festival received widespread praise from sponsors, traders, accommodation providers and visitors, many of whom called for it to become an annual event.
Sponsors Winston Churchill Venison, Gibsons and Black of Dunoon Bakers backed the inaugural event, with Helen Black saying it had created “a great atmosphere” and brought plenty of people into the town.
Traders also reported strong sales throughout the weekend. Deborah Fleming of Townhead Farm described it as “the best food and drink festival we have ever taken part in”, while Stuart Drake of Titan Rum praised the organisation, calling it one of the best-run events the business had attended.
Many stallholders highlighted the lively atmosphere and the opportunity to showcase Argyll produce to both local residents and visitors. Several said they were already looking forward to returning next year.
The festival also provided a welcome boost for the wider local economy.
Douglas Park Guest House owner Kenny Togwell explained: “It was great to see the town bustling with visitors and very happy traders all enjoying the weather too. I had a lovely couple from Edinburgh staying with me who raved about their wonderful evening at Chatters. They will definitely return.”
Visitors travelled from across Scotland and beyond to attend. Among them was Margaret Forrest, from the United States, who described it as “a beautiful event that the whole town could enjoy”, while Jill Aikman, who travelled from Wemyss Bay, praised the variety of stalls and the cookery demonstration by Scotland’s National Chef Gary Maclean.
The positive impact extended beyond the festival itself. Hans Calvert, chair of Cowal Open Studios and Cowal Art Network, said: “Our artists and makers market on Dunoon Pier, helped by great weather, the facilities in the pavilion and the general buzz in Dunoon from the Food and Drinks Festival, enabled us to achieve historically high levels of attendance and sales of our members’ works. Grateful thanks go to all our valued visitors.”
As Taste Festival came to a close on Sunday afternoon organisers had the opportunity to reflect on a remarkable weekend.
Colin Moulson, manager of Dunoon Presents commented: “What a great couple of days. We organised a fantastic event that will surely become a regular fixture in the town’s calendar. Ciorsdan Fagan, one of our Dunoon Presents board directors, came up with the idea and led on the creation of the festival and together we delivered it for thousands of visitors to enjoy.
“Thank you to Hannah Clinch from The Pop Shop who organised the rhubarb festival which was also well attended and resulted in a significant increase in footfall and sales in that area of the town. We also couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of our team of volunteers who ensured it ran smoothly.
Ciorsdan Fagan concluded: “It couldn’t have gone any better. I think it’s safe to say we’ll be looking at doing this again. The event surpassed our expectations and it highlighted Dunoon as a delicious foodie destination. We’re looking forward to next year and making plans already.”
