A Taste of Twickenham’s Food Trail Festival returned last Sunday to positive reviews, but some vendors wanted more from this year’s event.
A new addition to the third iteration of the festival was Microbrew Row, which featured stalls offering locally crafted drinks.
However, some sellers on the row felt poorly situated on Heath Road, with lower footfall than anticipated.
The Twickenham festival prides itself on giving every business in the town centre the chance to promote themselves, but the 50 vendors taking part could not choose where to set up.
Elliot Hines, owner of wine brand Vine Street, said: “I thought we’d be closer to the Church Street area and the music.
“I wish there were more directions to guide people – it’s a bit too spread out.”
While the community festival takes over the whole town, the picturesque and pedestrianised Church Street is seen as the epicentre of the day.
Valtona Mead owner Holly Barker said: “We’re selling alcohol, so you want a space where people can sit down or be close to the live music – somewhere like Twickenham Green.”
Barker, who brews mead on Twickenham’s Eel Pie Island, still praised the festival.
She added: “It’s been really nice to see everyone, meet other breweries and get the word out about our mead.”
Lauri Riviera, organiser of the Food Trail Festival, acknowledged the feedback and offered improvements for future events, including the location of craft stalls near Waitrose on London Road.
Riviera said: “It was our third Food Trail Festival, so it’s a learning curve – next year we will keep the action on the main streets and not have stalls tucked away near the Waitrose.
“Maybe we’ll move Microbrew Row closer to the town centre too.”
The rain was unable to dampen this parade, with crowds out in force.
Drawing 14,000 attendees when last held in 2024, the event offers visitors a flavour of more than just food – including craft stalls and live music too.
“The bands did a smashing job,” said Riviera.
“People who attend the festival always comment on the happy vibe, and it’s because of the local people who take part.”
The Rose & Lion pub was one of many venues in Twickenham offering a line-up of live music at the festival, in addition to tasting portions of their pizzas made with 72-hour-proved dough and specialist Italian produce.
Rose & Lion landlord Steven Horn said: “There’s so much good food and good music in Twickenham.
“We’re a super cool bar, but sometimes the perception can be that our sort of place serves only frozen stuff. We’re the complete opposite.”
It was the first time the pub had taken part in the Food Trail, and is celebrating its first birthday this month with 50% off all food in September.
Horn added: “Our goal is to leave people happier than they arrived, and the festival delivered that too – the whole of Twickenham was smiling.”
The next Taste of Twickenham event is the Twickmas Christmas Market on 12 December.
For more information, contact [email protected].
Feature image taken by Ellen White
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