Warwick's winter food festival cancelled - but here's what's happening instead

Warwick's winter food festival has been cancelled, but a replacement event has announced for the town.

Market operator CJ’s Events Warwickshire were due to hold their second winter food festival on Sunday November 22 featuring more than 80 stalls, live entertainment and activities.

However due to the pandemic and Local Government guidelines on events, the original format has been pulled, but is being replaced with a market style event.

Jamie Walker of CJ’s Events Warwickshire said: "Last year we held a very successful winter food festival in Warwick and we were excited to be hosting our second one later this year.

"Sadly, this won’t be happening, but we are pleased that Warwick District Council have given us the green light to host a winter food market.

"The market will use various streets in the town centre and will host a range of artisan producers, and a number of street food outlets.

"Unfortunately, due to the council’s current restrictions there will be no entertainment or attractions such as reindeer or Father Christmas, but we can guarantee visitors will be able

to get into the Christmas spirit.

"Last year the winter food festival attracted thousands of visitors of people.

"With the current coronavirus conditions this would be impossible to host.

"We take great pride in our events and we cannot allow them to go ahead when there is any risk to our team, traders, visitors, or wider community.

"We certainly do not want to contribute to a local lockdown and are always cautious on how we manage and operate our markets and events safely.

"We have to be realistic and take into account some form of social distancing will most likely be required in November, but as always, this is an ever-changing situation and our plans need to be flexible to allow for Government changes over the coming months.

"By hosting a market style event, rather than a food festival is an alternative way of ensuring the Christmas spirit remains alive in the town, and we can drive additional, but manageable footfall for the local economy during the festive period.

"Our team are committed to hosting smaller events and markets for the remainder of 2020, and will return with larger events in 2021, when we’re in a much better understanding with the virus and the restrictions on the events industry.

"We’d like to pass our thanks onto the relevant teams at the District Council who will be working with us to ensure safety remains at the forefront of this winter food market."

The winter food market will showcase up to 40 traders in a Christmas themed market and will take place on Sunday November 22 between 10am and 5pm.

More information on the market will be announced over the coming months online at: www.cjseventswarwickshire.co.uk