Bristol Foodies Festival will go ahead next month after councillors granted permission despite police and environmental health objections. South Gloucestershire Council's licensing sub-committee heard the organisers have run the event 128 times across the country since 2005 without a single serious issue and that parking for 600 cars had been found in a nearby field, amid concerns about streets and driveways being blocked.
The three-day food and drink extravaganza from Friday to Sunday, May 12-14, which includes demonstrations by celebrity chefs and a funfair, has been held for several years on Clifton Downs. It was under threat after Bristol City Council refused to allow it back, citing poor management of the event.
And then police and South Gloucestershire health and safety officials said its new location at Little Stoke Park in the middle of a Stoke Gifford housing estate was inappropriate because residents would suffer noise, nuisance and antisocial behaviour. But on Thursday, April 20, the sub-committee granted a premises licence for live music – including chart-topping throwback headline acts Blue and Scouting For Girls – and alcohol sales from 11am to 10pm after hearing the performances would end at 8pm and attendees, expected to be 3,000 a day, would leave the site gradually.
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