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Organisers hail success of UKs first coffee festival

Geometry PR, which organised the UK’s first coffee festival in Bath during May, has hailed the inaugural event as a fantastic success that exceeded all expectations.

7,350 visitors attended and an abundance of coffee, sourced from at least 13 countries around the world, was enjoyed. Given the Festival’s success and demand from exhibitors and sponsors, the organisers have committed that it will return next year.

Coffee fans enjoyed tastings, latte art demonstrations and workshops from the UK’s most experienced baristas and coffee experts, including celebrity chef Martin Blunos and Mike Riley, head coffee buyer at Taylors of Harrogate. There was plenty of additional entertainment for the whole family, with samba dancing, salsa lessons, acoustic sets, book signings from authors and colouring competitions. In addition, international rugby stars joined a touch rugby tournament, tying in with the festival’s pledge of giving a share of the profits to the Bath Rugby Community Foundation.

Festival organiser Linda Donaldson said; “Thank you to the people of Bath, our exhibitors and Bath Rugby for making the Festival a success. We knew that a coffee festival would be popular in Bath and are delighted that so many people came to enjoy the event and to support us. It was great to see our demonstration tent packed out over the whole weekend and people having great conversations with both big coffee brands and local independent companies. Clearly there is an appetite for coffee fans to find out more about what is arguably the nation’s most popular drink.

“This event would not have been possible without the support and vision of Bath Rugby. The Recreation Ground was the perfect venue for the Festival and all at the club could not have been more helpful in making it such a success. It demonstrates how important Bath Rugby and the Rec are for the city. We have had very good feedback from exhibitors and sponsors with a significant number re-booking for next year. Even while we were at the Festival our Blackberries were exploding with messages of support from the public and from those in the trade. We look forward to putting together an even bigger and better Festival next year.”

The Bath Coffee Festival featured big name coffee companies including Taylors of Harrogate, Martin Carwardine & Co, illy caffé, Whittard of Chelsea, Lavazza, plus an array of local producers. Cravendale kept exhibitors stocked with milk over the weekend. Alongside Taylors of Harrogate, Malmesbury Syrups and the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe were headline sponsors.

Date Posted: 6/11/2010 5:06:19 PM