The woman behind one of the region's most renowned food and drink festivals has hailed one of its most successful events to date.
Local food campaigner Caroline Cranbrook - who co-founded the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival with food entrepreneur William Kendall - is delighted at its record-breaking performance this year.
The festival - which took place over September 23 and 24 - drew around 11,500 people - an 18% rise on 2022 and a new record.
Lady Caroline - who is festival president - said the two-day gathering of some of the region's best producers as well as chefs and food writers from across the UK - reflected the importance of food and drink in Suffolk.
They were the county's "jewels in the crown", she said. "And the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival has become one of the most valuable jewels in that crown."
This year’s event was "one of the most successful we have ever held – for the traders, for their customers and for the festival itself", she said.
The yearly event - started in 2006 - is organised by a not-for-profit Community Interest Company and takes place at Snape Maltings.
Organisers have to raise £170k every year just to put the event on - and rely on sponsors and wellwishers.
Its directors include celebrated Baron Bigod cheese maker and farmer Jonny Crickmore of Fen Farm, Bungay, and George Pell of The Suffolk restaurant in Aldeburgh. The board is chaired by ex-hotelier Tim Rowan Robinson.
The show hosted a record-breaking number of exhibitors - with 131 stalls, 27 new exhibits, 11 start-up food and drink businesses and six master classes by nationally renowned chefs and food experts.
It was also a huge hit with families and children, with two master classes specifically aimed at them.
There were just under 2000 under-16s on site - also a new record - who participated in a range of engaging children’s activities including classes by Grow Cook Eat, cookery demonstrations, a Suffolk New College cookery truck, a workbook for every child, and a Producer Trail.
"It is a remarkable event – held in one of the most beautiful places in Britain, hosting over the weekend some of the best of the nation’s food and drink," said Lady Cranbrook.
Next year's event is provisionally booked for September 28 and 29.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here