Principal Sponsor: The Watercress Alliance
The Watercress Alliance, principal sponsor of The Watercress Festival, comprises the major UK producers of watercress, Vitacress Salads, Alresford Salads and The Watercress Company. The companies joined forces in 2003 to raise the profile of this great British ingredient, a major part of which was the development of The Watercress Festival.
The Watercress Alliance will be hosting Antony Worrall Thompson’s cookery demonstrations as well as launching a special 72-page hardback watercress book, packed with over 30 recipes, history, folklore and health facts. Visit The Watercress Alliance stand to buy your copy signed by Antony, for the exclusive festival price of £5.
For more information, visit the website.
http://www.watercress.co.uk
Hampshire Fare
County food group Hampshire Fare represents producer members who grow, rear, make and sell a diverse range of food, drink and craft from Hampshire. Members also include farm shops, independent food shops, eateries, visitor attractions, hotels, B&Bs, caterers and cookery schools. Supported by Hampshire County Council, the common aim throughout is to promote the best of Hampshire’s food, drink and craft.
Celebrate fabulous local produce at this year’s Hampshire Food Festival (July 1st – 31st), with over 100 different ‘foodie’ events held at dozens of venues across Hampshire. For a free festival programme, to find out where to buy local produce and for other local food news and events, visit the website.
http://www.hampshirefare.co.uk
Ocean FM
Hampshire’s number 1 radio station for traffic, travel and information on the south coast, Ocean FM is proud to support this year’s Alresford Watercress Festival. Ocean FM prides itself on building strong relationships with the community and Alresford is a perfect example of this. For more details, tune into Ocean FM 96.7 or 97.5 and read more about the festival online at www.oceanfm.com. Ocean FM, Classic Hits and the Best News Songs
http://www.oceanfm.co.uk
Wykeham Life
Stylish glossy magazine Wykeham Life celebrates the best of local living, including the very latest on property, arts, dining and shopping in Winchester and surrounding areas. Wykeham Life is delighted to be supporting the Alresford Watercress Festival as sponsor of the festival’s Eateries Awards, to be judged by the publication’s editor, Nicola Cunningham. Ensuring that watercress is the hottest ingredient this Spring, the awards celebrate the creativity of chefs throughout the region who work it into their menus in the lead up to the festival. Be sure to encourage your local restaurant, pub or tea-room to enter, and make sure you grab the latest issue to see how they fare!
http://www.wykehamlifemag.co.uk/
Alresford Chamber of Commerce
Established over 70 years ago, the Alresford Chamber of Commerce is a thriving organisation dedicated to supporting and representing businesses around the town with over 120 members, from sole-traders to large businesses. Independent, non-political and not-for-profit, the national network of British Chambers of Commerce is regarded as the voice of business to policy makers at both local and national levels. The Alresford Chamber of Commerce plays an active role in the organisation of the festival as well as providing financial support. Look out for the Alresford Bag for Life, recently launched to help the town do its bit for the environment!
http://www.alresford.org
New Alresford Town Council
New Alresford Town Council is pleased to support the Alresford Watercress Festival. As well as making a grant, NATC also make administrative time available to the festival and are actively involved in the organisation and management of the festival on the day. NATC is responsible for promoting tourism in the town and will be ensuring that the hanging baskets and floral displays will be in place on the festival day. We wish all of our visitors a pleasant day and hope that they will come and visit us again.
http://www.newalresfordtc.org.uk/
The Watercress Line
Experience history in motion as you travel by steam or diesel train through 10 miles of beautiful countryside between Alresford and Alton. In 1865 the development of the railway and the opening of the line to Alresford allowed the watercress industry to spread here and capitalize on the abundance of undeveloped land and clear spring water. Vast amounts of fresh watercress were transported on the line, for sale at Covent garden market. Special events at the Watercress Line include ‘Day out with Thomas’, Wizard Week, Santa Specials and more! We also offer luxury dining, real ale trains and conference facilities.
Tel: 01962 733810
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/
Co-op Alresford
The Alresford Watercress Festival Park & Ride on the Watercress Line is kindly supported by the Co-op in Alresford.
