A new food and drink festival which showcased over 40 businesses has been hailed a “huge success.” And as part of the event a new World Tattie Scone Champion has been crowned.
Taste of Nairn took place in the coastal town over three days between 12-14 April. Businesses and organisations throughout the town and beyond rallied together to create the festival which it is hoped will take place again next year.
Taste of Nairn featured over 15 individual events including a comedy night, fashion show, numerous restaurants putting on special menus and offers such as gin and jazz, a mini music festival and wine flights & light bites.
Events were held in locations throughout the town and on Saturday, Nairn Community and Arts Centre was the venue for an Artisan Market featuring stalls and food and drink demonstrations.
The event has been organised by Nairn BID with support from local marketing firm Claire Doughty Publicity.
Janis Maclean, Nairn BID manager said she was delighted with the turnout: “This is Nairn’s newest event and we have been thrilled with what we have achieved in the first year. It’s been a huge success for something which was a first for us. Over the course of the weekend over 40 different businesses have been showcased and there have been over 15 individual events taking place across the town. It seems that the event has brought people out and about into the town and we also had people travelling from other towns in Moray and Highland to see what it was all about.”
She added: “There was a real buzz about the town and businesses are reporting that they have been busier as a result of the festival. It helped that the weather played ball for us as well.”
The World Tattie Scone Competition was also held at the Artisan Market. It was a feature for six years at Piping At Forres, but its organisers, Forres Events Limited and Oakwood Cookery School agreed to run it at Taste of Nairn for 2019.
The new World Champion is Paul Douglas, who wowed the judges with his ‘Scottish Scone,’ which featured caramelised red onion.
Paul who is the manager of the King Street Co-op in Nairn said: “I had never made a tattie scone until the night before when I thought I better have a practice. I was nominated by my boss Michael. I love tattie scones, but I usually just buy them, from now on, I’ll be making them.”
Judges of the contest were Vicky Farquhar from the Oakwood Cookery School, Framer Richard Jones and Ali Asher of Asher’s Bakery.
Claire from Claire Doughty Publicity said she was delighted that in its first year, Taste of Nairn had received such a positive response.
“We are thrilled with how Taste of Nairn has gone. What was fabulous was that there were so many different types of events and offers, so there was something for everyone. There is always room for improvement and Nairn BID and myself will be meeting with the BID members and those who got involved this year, to see what we can do better.
But one thing is for sure, Taste of Nairn will be back next year.”
Picture: competitors take part in the 2019 World Tattie Scone Competition. Credit: Nairn Camara Club
