Street market added to Taste of Nairn plans
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A food and drink festival showcasing the best of local produce in Nairnshire is returning for a fourth year.
Taste of Nairn will run from May 10-12 and will incorporate two markets, demonstrations, tastings, and a number of individual events taking place in the seaside town.
The event is run by Nairn Connects BID with the aim of driving footfall and showcasing businesses from the town and wider region.
Nairn BID manager Lucy Harding said: “Each year we make tweaks to the event to make sure it is fresh and offers something new. This year, we are delighted to be adding a street market to the already ample offering and we are hoping the local businesses get on board with this, take advantage of the opportunity and either take a stall or create their own market day or festival offers and events.
“Nairn BID stages three core events each year. We have data which shows that our 2023 Christmas event increased footfall by 19 per cent compared to 2022 figures and promotion and awareness of the events attracted more visitors from further afield. We are confident that Taste of Nairn will also have a good impact.
“To help achieve this, we have enlisted the support of four food and drink influencers who will be visiting in March, ahead of Taste of Nairn, with a view to promoting our stunning town. This will put a huge spotlight on the event and the town itself.”
This year, Taste of Nairn will host two markets on May 11 – one held in the Nairn Community and Arts Centre and the other in the town centre, run with Moray Markets.
Back by popular demand is the World Tattie Scone Championship supported by Oakwood Cookery School and the Showstopper Cake Contest will be sponsored by Makes by Megs.
“We are so thrilled to be hosting the World Tattie Scone Championship again," Ms Harding added. "It’s a hugely popular event and is a lot of fun. It’s dead easy because all we ask is that entrants provide their own secret ingredient: everything else is provided.”
She added: “The Showstopper Cake Contest is slightly different this year and will have a professional category as well as amateur entries. The professionals will be given set parameters to adhere to, whilst the amateur bakers will have more freedom to create a cake with a Nairn theme.”
Returning as title sponsor of the three-day event is Ashers Bakery which has given its support to Taste of Nairn, since it started in 2019.
Ali Asher, from Ashers Bakery, said he was delighted to be involved for a fourth time.
He said: “We are delighted that Taste of Nairn is back and we are supporting it as title sponsor once again. The line-up looks great and I would urge the businesses of the town to get involved. Ashers always takes a stall at the indoor market and it’s always a very successful event for us.
“Taste of Nairn really puts the spotlight on what fantastic food and drink Nairn and the surrounding area offers. We are very fortunate in Nairnshire and the Highlands to have so many fantastic producers; this is the perfect platform to showcase what we all do.”
