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Last week we hosted a special event at Stoughton Grange Farm Shop and Deli to celebrate our Taste the Place campaign and the Food For Thought element in particular.
A location in demand
We already know that Leicestershire is an incredibly popular place to visit, in 2022 there were 30.53 million visitors to our region who contributed £2.07bn to the local economy and supported the employment of 21,038 people in travel, tourism, hospitality and related areas.
According to a recent Visit Britain survey of international visitors, 92% of travellers to Britain wanted to try local cheese, 86% wanted to try curry, 85% local meats, 81% craft beers and 89% baked goods.
These are all things we have in abundance here in Leicestershire and our Taste The Place campaign aims to let more people know about the fabulous food and drink on offer across Leicester and Leicestershire. It sits alongside our existing campaigns Uncover The Story and Fitcation, and is intended to encourage visitors to visit one of our restaurants, bars and cafes, to buy fresh from a baker, farm shop or deli, to see food in production or to experience it first-hand in a Gin workshop or pie making experience!
The Taste the Place campaign
The four themes of Taste the Place highlight different strengths of our food and drink industry, with A Taste of England celebrating our traditional and locally made food and drink, World on the Plate shining a light on the sheer variety of world food available in and around Leicester, and Home of Veganism telling Leicester’s story as the place where the concept of a vegan lifestyle first arose.
Food for Thought is all about sustainable food consumption, reducing food miles, supporting sustainable farming and promoting a “farm to fork” approach, all of which can be seen in abundance at Stoughton Grange, which is a working farm, grows food which is then served in the on-site pub, and sells locally produced food in the Farm Shop and deli.
Our Food For Thought event
At the event we welcomed a number of fantastic local producers and delis, all of whom have unique stories to tell and products to promote, from the The Bee Farmer, whose hives are buzzing with delicious honey and bee-related products, to Rothley Winery, whose selection of wines made on their vineyard all take inspiration from the local region.
We also brought along Ferneleys Ice Cream, whose packaging uses the face of one of the cows who supplies the milk for their huge range of flavours, and Mill Hill Brewery, who collaborated with local artist Sam Grubb to creating striking designs for their locally inspired beers, names including Lesta Lager, Meet Ya At The Clock Tower and Ooh Ya Beauteh!
At the event we had a number of talks which were somewhat disturbed by the torrential rain that blessed us (good for the growing though!) Steaming Billy’s Bill Allingham, who owns and runs the Stoughton Grange site, told us how they’ve taken the concept of sustainability to the next level with on-site production of their own gin, home grown vegetables and herbs that supply their pub restaurant and a commitment to local suppliers in their farm shop and deli.
Rachel Gillis from Visit England underlined the importance of local food to tourism in the UK and how Leicestershire is best placed to take advantage of that. And Harry from Mill Hill Brewery talked about their collaboration with local artists to develop the concepts for their Leicester-themed beers.
A taste of Leicestershire
The event and the campaign gives visitors a Sense of Place as our local food and drink offer is linked so closely to our rich heritage, our communities, our fertile rural landscapes and our entrepreneurial businesses. All those ingredients come together to create an authentic and unique food destination.
We want visitors to hear our food and drink stories, watch their pint of ale being brewed, visit the farm that made their cheese and chat to the vendor making their first experience of Indian street food. Combined with loads of fantastic attractions, and a multitude of hotels, B&Bs and glamping sites that you can book on our website, we’re encouraging visitors to get a taste of Leicestershire.
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As we savor the local cheeses, craft beers, and artisanal products, it's also a good time to reflect on how we manage our finances when indulging in these experiences. With so many tempting offerings, it can be easy to overspend—especially if you're visiting multiple events, dining out frequently, or purchasing gourmet items to take home.
Using credit cards responsibly or considering a small loan like https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/borrow-100-instantly-from-trusted-sources-stop-ashly-flowers-hztre for a more significant purchase can help you enjoy these experiences without immediate financial strain. However, it's essential to be mindful of how debt can accumulate. Planning your budget and keeping track of your spending ensures that enjoying the rich culinary heritage of Leicestershire doesn't lead to unnecessary debt. After all, the best way to truly appreciate the flavors of the region is to do so with peace of mind, knowing your finances are under control.