A COASTAL community plans to aid the financial recovery from the Covid pandemic by showcasing the area's local food and drink at a festival this spring.
The inaugural Gullane Food and Drink Festival will be a week-long community celebration running from April 4 to 10.
Restaurants – including the likes of the Bonnie Badger – will offer drop-in cookery demonstrations using local ingredients, while farm and flour mill tours will highlight sustainable, local, environmentally-friendly food production.
Community groups, pubs and cafes have all joined forces to back the festival, including:
• La Potiniere
• Bonnie Badger
• The Watchman
• The Old Clubhouse
• Cherish Vintage Tearoom
• The Storeroom
• Gullane Primary School
• Co Op
• Minato Sushi
• The Main Course
• Luffness Mains Farming
• Goose Green Bakery
• Gullane Golf Club
• Spice Pots
Louise Pickering, festival founder and owner of the Cherish Tearoom, said: "Gullane, like many villages across Scotland, has suffered from the impact of the Covid pandemic.
"It has been a challenging 18 months for businesses in the area.
“This is our community’s way of fighting back, bringing people together from across the village. This festival will not only celebrate the area's excellent food and drink, but also underline the resilience and community spirit local people have demonstrated in the face of the Covid pandemic.
“We have been working hard to secure a diverse selection of producers for the festival and we are sure visitors won’t be disappointed by the excellent food and drink on offer from across the county and beyond.”
James Withers, Scotland Food and Drink chief executive, said: "The Gullane Food and Drink Festival is an opportunity to showcase the amazing larder East Lothian has to offer as well as educate visitors on the tremendous work being done by this community.
“Scotland’s food and drink producers have a brilliant story to tell around locally sourced, sustainable food production, and this is a great chance for the community of Gullane to tell theirs.”
“This is another great step forward on Scotland’s food tourism journey.”
Paul McLennan MSP, Craig Hoy MSP and Martin Whitfield MSP said in a joint statement: "This festival will be a fantastic boost for the Gullane community and it is heartening to see local businesses, farmers and community groups teaming up to celebrate the area's food and drink.
“It also shines a spotlight on the importance of community spirit, people working together for the common good.
"We are sure the festival will attract visitors from far and wide.”
For more information visit @gullanefoodanddrinkfestival on Facebook.
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