Local Food and Drink

Going Green

Local Food & Drink

Why is local food and drink good for business?

Food tourism is becoming increasingly popular. Visitors are choosing to go to destinations to sample local food and drink specialities and well-known restaurants, or they make a point of going to food festivals, farmers’ markets and recommended restaurants when they are staying away.

Local food is usually fresher and needs less storage, preservation and transportation, and will therefore taste better too. And visitors will enjoy sampling local fare.

Ultimately, food tourism:

• Adds value to your business
• Adds visitor appeal
• Reflects your commitment to supporting the local and regional economy
• Reflects your commitment to sustainability
• Celebrates great local produce and helps keep local and regional producers in business
• Adds marketing & promotional potential

What is local to North East England?

Coffee is roasted here, over 60 different varieties of chillies from around the world are carefully nurtured on the edge of the North Pennines, and 20 varieties of gourmet 'Heritage Potatoes' (including black, red and blue ones) are grown in Northumberland soil on a single farm. Also:

• Craster kippers
• Lindisfarne oysters
• Pease pudding
• Scones
• Bacon
• The Stottle & Newcastle Brown Ale bread
• Honey
• Rare breed sausages
• The pasty
• Fish & Chips
• Leeks
• Newcastle Brown Ale
• Alnwick Rum
• Lindisfarne Mead

Food and Drink events

Visitors love experiencing new tastes and new cuisines.  British Food Fortnight (every autumn) is the flagship annual event for promoting British and regional food in restaurants, cafes, pubs, schools, catering firms and retailers.

Each year thousands of UK businesses take part and there are regional events, festivals and fairs up and down the country. It’s a great way to tempt visitors to try local and regional fare.

Check out the British Food Fortnight website for details of events, ideas of how to get involved, and even recipes.

Keep up with other regional and local food and drink events at Taste North East

Where can I find out more?

• Find out what your local farm or food business is producing
• Keep in touch with your Area Tourism Partnership and network with other tourism businesses
• Check out Taste North East, North East England’s Regional Food & Drink Group for details of local farm shops, Farmers’ Markets. specialist food shops, and regional Food & Drink festivals and events
• Have a look at the Northumberland Menus Toolkit – recipes for 5 dishes using local produce
• Search on consumer shopping sites such as Big Barn and the Farm Retail Association
• Find out more about Made in Northumberland