vision
31
www.northeastvision.co.uk
north east
Kathyn Potts
North East of England's farmers markets
WHEN a survey of visitors to Alnwick Farmers
Market was last carried out two years ago, there
were no overseas visitors. In fact the majority �
71% � came from the NE66 Alnwick area postcode.
Just 6% of the sample were from outside the
region.
It's something that Alnwick-based Kathryn
Potts, manager of North East of England's
Farmers Markets (NEEFM), hopes will not be the
case when the latest count, taken at the end of
last month is analysed.
She said: "We measure the footfall in the
marketplace and find out where people come
from. Two years ago, the last time we did it, there
were no overseas visitors.
"This year, I would expect it to be probably
higher. This year, there were a lot more tourists
in Northumberland and there has been an
exceptionally high number of people visiting the
coast. We're recognising that in the markets.
"We are very dependent on the tourism for
making the markets viable � and we hope the
markets combine to make a good day out in
Alnwick."
She says that the town has "the best
marketplace in Northumberland" but points to
the recent redevelopment of Morpeth town
centre and its ability to attract new people.
"Morpeth had a lot of thought and money put
into redeveloping the town centre; Morpeth is
really buzzing," said Ms Potts.
"The retail offering in Alnwick is
not going to be able to compete with
Morpeth. Shops like Turnbulls [the
The idea to sell Alnwick as a
whole to the world as a
destination has received a
generally warm welcome,
although not everybody is
convinced that it can become
a global tourist attraction on
the scale of some London's
most famous sites.
The town is already pretty
well-known on the tourist
trail. In addition to the
national publicity garnered by
the garden, the castle and of
course, the Harry Potter
effect, it stages a string of
annual festivals.
Lack of interest from the
community sounded the final
death knell for Alnwick Fair,
which was last held two years
ago, but an international
music festival plus beer and
food festivals are staged
annually. Karen Dent has
been gauging opinion.
TOURISM
Turn to
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