Steyning and District Food and Drink Festival 2020 is ON!

Plans for the Steyning and District Food and Drink Festival 2020 are forging ahead, with due consideration to current government restrictions.
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The team from Steyning and District Community Partnership visitor and tourism committee is looking at ways to make the festival work with social distancing measures in place.

With businesses back open following the coronavirus lockdown, the organisers are confident they can make it work and encourage people to visit the town and surrounding villages.

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Reina Alston, from the festival committee, said: “Plans to stage the annual and ever popular Steyning and District Food and Drink Festival are forging ahead for the usual month of September, albeit with the organising committee having to grapple with some rather unusual restrictions.

Steyning High Street. Picture: Steve Robards SR2007079Steyning High Street. Picture: Steve Robards SR2007079
Steyning High Street. Picture: Steve Robards SR2007079

“We have to be realistic and take into account that some form of social distancing will most likely still be in existence, so are set to stage more outdoor and online events than usual.

“With larger indoor gathering being off limits, it is still, however, hoped to hold some smaller, restricted number occasions.”

Alongside this year’s innovative events calendar there will be, as ever, a mass of fantastic special offers from businesses in the area, running for the whole month of September.

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Reina added: “More great reasons to visit! Come eat, drink, bake and shop.

“As this festival will probably be one of a very few local events for 2020, the committee are striving to make sure that it will strike a happy, positive note, encouraging people to forget all that has gone before and enjoy life again.”

With organisation delayed due to lockdown, the steyningdistrictfooddrinkfestival.co.uk is still a bit behind and showing only last year’s details but Reina advises to keep looking as new events and offers will be loaded as soon as information becomes available.

She said: “Everything is taking longer this year but then we all used to that by now.”

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It has been a couple of weeks since businesses in Steyning and the surrounding villages of Ashurst, Bramber, Edburton, Small Dole, Upper Beeding and Wiston flung open their doors to the world again.

Reina said: “A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes to make sure everything was in place before the opening day but it was well worth it.

“There is a lovely buzz in the town and surrounds, with smiling faces everywhere. While all the businesses have taken on board the important, numerous directives set to keep everyone as safe as possible, this has not dimmed the relaxed happy atmosphere that pervades.

“During the lockdown, the community spirit was seen working at its very best – people caring for each other – and it is ongoing.

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Residents are happy to be engaging in normal, everyday life again and visitors would be very, very welcome to join in.”

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