The UK’s Largest Ever Domestic Tourism Marketing Campaign

part of English Tourism Week 10-18 March

Last month Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board (LBTB) announced that the tourist board had been awarded funding of £120,000 to help promote rural Lancashire produce and producers up to March 2013, from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), for which Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is the managing authority, part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for rural development: Europe investing in rural areas.

Part of the funding will be spent on raising awareness of Lancashire’s rural producers amongst trade and food buyers, with the aim of securing contracts and contributing to the sustainability of local food businesses. LBTB has therefore seized the opportunity to have a strong Lancashire presence at the Northern Restaurant and Bar Show, which will be held at Manchester Central on Monday 12 – Tuesday 13 March, during English Tourism Week.

The show has over 180 exhibitors and more than 50 different demonstrations, presentations and tastings and the Taste Lancashire stand will proudly showcase the following local producers: Bowland Forest Eggs, Capra Products, Crossmoor Honey, Dewlay Cheese, Dough2BDifferent,  Dove Syke Cider,  Exchange Coffee, Fiddlers Lancashire Crisps,  Lune Valley Smokehouse, Reedys Naturally  and Trough of Bowland Spring Water.

Visitors to the exhibition will also be treated to cookery masterclasses by some of Lancashire’s finest chefs, who will demonstrate the appeal, freshness and versatility of Lancashire produce. On Monday 12 March Rob Talbot, Head Chef of The Redwell Inn near Hornby, will be working with smoked produce created in the Redwell Inn’s own Lune Valley Smokehouse.  The Redwell Inn is the tourist board’s current holder of the Taste Lancashire Tourism Award 2011/12.   On the same day Anson Bolton, Chef Patron of The Millstone at Mellor will demonstrate his love of Lancashire food and show how the team at the award-winning Millstone champions the use of local produce.  The Lancashire kitchen demo on Tuesday 13 March will showcase the skills of talented pastry chef, Martin Hargreaves of Heathcotes restaurant in Longridge.  In 2009 Martin was named Lancashire Young Chef of the Year at the LETS Awards (Lancashire Excellence in Tourism Skills) and was a finalist in the North West Chef of the Year 2010.

Tony Openshaw, LBTB Director of Marketing, speaking about the exhibition said;

“Taking part in the Northern Restaurant and Bar Show during English Tourism Week recognises the invaluable contribution Lancashire food and drink makes to the visitor experience.  It also offers greater exposure for some of our more rural producers and their produce, as well as the opportunity to network and meet with potential buyers. 

“The Taste Lancashire exhibition stand has been created to encourage networking through an attractive café style layout, with tasting areas and space for around 10 producers.  As well as displaying the produce very well and promoting the county’s amazing food offer through appealing imagery, it is important that our producers can talk directly to buyers and hopefully come away with new business deals.”

For more information about food and drink events in Lancashire visitlancashire.com/taste

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Media enquiries: Anna Izza, Communications Manager, Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board on 01772 426459 or [email protected]

Notes to Editors

1.         Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board (LBTB) was set up in April 2004. It supports tourism businesses in the Lancashire and Blackpool sub-region by representing their interests regionally and nationally, by co-ordinating marketing activity, developing the tourism product and working in partnership with industry. Our activities in marketing and communications, commercial membership, `Welcome to Excellence` training and visitor services are all designed to improve quality and the visitor economy.

In 2010 the Lancashire and Blackpool area attracted 60 million visitors who contributed £3.25 billion to the local economy and helped support 55,227 jobs.

2.         The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), for which Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is the managing authority, is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for rural development: Europe investing in rural areas.  A priority for the RDPE is encouraging collaboration between food and tourism businesses, for the wider economic benefits that can be achieved, including employment opportunities.