Previous winners Lisa Hartwright and Ozi

Thame Food Festival is delighted to be reinstating its bursary for local food producers to celebrate and promote new artisan food businesses within a 30-mile radius of Thame in Oxfordshire.

The successful applicant will be awarded £1,000, receive a free pitch at this year’s Thame Food Festival (24 – 25 September), promoted in the festival programme, interviewed in the Food Glorious Food marquee and helped with PR and social media. 

So, if your artisan Food business has been going for a year or less and you have an original idea/concept that’s exciting and innovative, then Thame Food Festival want to hear from you.

Thame Food Festival is back

Previous winners have included Ozi Lala, who has gone on to win Great Taste awards for his unique food products and the original winner was Lisa Hartwright of Tess’ Brilliant Bakes. She spoke at the time of her award of both her delight and the difference it made to her:

“Since being awarded the Thame Food Festival Bursary, my life has changed immeasurably.  I gave up my full-time job to devote my time fully to building my business and since then I haven’t looked back! Thame Food Festival has given my business a tremendous boost. It has given me the confidence to push myself and my business that little bit harder and achieve so much more than I had imagined I could,” she says.

Tess Cookies

Thame Food Festival patron and event co-ordinator Lotte Duncan said “It feels so good to be in a position to offer a bursary again. Now more than ever!

“Supporting artisan producers is at our core and we are keen to be able to give something back by offering a local food producer this wonderful bursary. It is only because of the success of the event last year, and the support of Pinkster Gin, that we are now in the financial position to be able to do it again.”

Ozi Lala

This year’s event will be held at the Thame Show Ground on 24th and 25th September 2022. Going since 2008 and attracting thousands of people, expect over 180 artisan producers, high profile celebrities and Master Chef and Great British Bake Off stars. It is also part of the British Food Fortnight.

Full details on how to enter can be found on the Thame Food Festival http://www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk. The closing date for entries is May 31 2022.