A few years back ideas were floated for a good long term-plan for promoting the town. As with all good ideas it turned out the solution was right under our noses. Malton is fortunate to be surrounded by some of the most productive and varied farmland in the country. Within 30 miles of Malton there are hundreds of superb producers who rear and grow some of the best food Britain has to offer. Our plan was to promote the town and its unique position surrounded by all this great food and so, in 2009 we started the now famous Food Lovers Festival.
Over the last three years the Malton Food Lovers Festival expanded with incredible speed. In 2011 the annual festival has grown into a two-day celebration of “Yorkshire’s Best” with over 100 high quality producer stalls, two cookery theatres, and celebrity patrons and chefs such as Tom Parker Bowles and Rosemary Shrager. Our Beer Festival sold out and we were delighted to welcome over 10,000 people to Malton. With car parks and streets bulging at the seams we really saw what good food and cooking could do to promote a town.
With the success of the festival we were asked to put on a more regular event and hence in November 2011 we debuted our first Food Lovers Market. This indoor event housed in the newly-refurbished Milton Rooms was designed to showcase only the highest quality produce local to Malton. For the convenience of shopper and producer alike, the indoor venue keeps everyone warm and dry year round. With an amazing atmosphere, helped by the thousands who flocked to Malton on the day, the market proved an instant hit . The next Malton Food Lovers Market is on Sat 3rd March 2012 and there are plans to operate monthly as soon as we can!
Other exciting projects have helped boost the town particularly the reopening of the Mount Hotel into a charming German beer cellar known as St. Michael’s Tavern, and the opening of the excellent restaurant “The New Malton” in the Market Place. Added to this there is much anticipation about the reopening of the Talbot Hotel which once more will play a central role in the life of the town.
The ambitious £4 million restoration is planned to open in spring 2012 and, with 26 bedrooms, will provide Malton with some really high quality accommodation. The restaurant and bar in the Talbot Hotel will be the ultimate place to taste all the superb local produce. And with North Yorkshire acting as a huge larder on the chef’s doorstep what could be better? Game from the North Yorkshire Moors, lobster and crab from the North Sea, rare breed cattle and pigs, local dairy, honey, cheese, perfect organic fruit and veg, baking galore and much, much more besides.
There are more foodie plans on the horizon but in the meantime come and try this pretty market town that can still boast two butchers, two greengrocers, a couple of lovely deli’s and a great fishmonger. We’ve got more on the way though so keep watching!
