A BUSINESS that survived a devastating blaze is to sponsor this year’s Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival.
Hinchliffe’s has just been unveiled as the main supporter for the annual event which is now in its 11th year.
The event will run from August 11 to 14 in St George’s Square in Huddersfield town centre.
Hinchliffe’s was devastated by fire last July. The shop, butchery, restaurant and tea rooms, plastic tunnel greenhouse and offices were destroyed in the blaze.
But the business is getting back on its feet, with a 900sqm marquee housing the shop and restaurant.
Organisers from Kirklees Council and Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership expect the free festival to be the biggest yet.
Over 70 food and drink stalls will be involved and more than 60,000 visitors are expected.
Clr Peter McBride, Cabinet member for Kirklees Council, said: “There could not be a better opportunity this summer for local businesses to showcase local produce.”
Netherton-based Hinchliffe’s was one of the first farm shops in the UK and has been family run since 1929.
The company prides itself on supplying the best fresh local produce and has a recently earned the accolade as one of the top 10 places in the UK to buy steak.
General manager Simon Hirst – a fourth generation Hinchliffe involved in the business – said: “We were absolutely thrilled when we were invited to be the main sponsor at this year’s Food and Drink Festival.
“It’s really exciting to be back in the centre of Huddersfield where we were first established back in 1929 by my granddad, Charlie Hinchliffe.
“We are still as passionate as ever to be supplying fantastic local produce. Here’s to a great festival, we can’t wait.”
Festival manager Cathy Burger said: “We were delighted when Hinchliffe’s accepted our proposal to be the main sponsor.
“Supporting local businesses is one of the main aims of the festival and we couldn’t get more local or more supportive than Hinchliffe’s.”
More information is available from the festival website at www.foodanddrinkfestival.co.uk or on Facebook.
