Holker Winter Market this weekend

Last updated 15:42, Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Holker winter market. Coppice worker Sam Ansell

HOLKER Hall’s fifth annual winter market has been hailed as the best ever.
Over 4,000 people flocked to the 25-acre estate at the weekend to sample a rich diversity of local food and get a head start on their Christmas shopping.
Forty stands boasting the pick of the area’s sweet, savoury, traditional and contemporary produce were inundated with custom on Saturday and Sunday.
Holker Hall event co-ordinator Jillian Rouse said: “It was a fantastic weekend. We had approximately just over 4,000 visitors, which made it the best one yet. It’s growing in popularity year on year.

“All the exhibitors were very pleased. It’s becoming a great platform for them to showcase their produce, especially in the lead up to Christmas.
“People were crowding into the main marquee, the various smaller marquees and the cafe courtyard. All the food stalls were very popular. A lot of the stalls were selling Christmas-related things and people seemed to jump at the chance to make a start with their Christmas shopping.
“The Pie Mill, which sold a variety of sweet and savoury pies, had completely sold out by early Sunday afternoon.
“People are coming from further afield and we were oversubscribed with applications to have a stand this year. We hope to extend it slightly next year.”