The Croydon Food Festival breaks attendance records!

Croydon’s biggest cultural event showcases local businesses in the town’s famous Restaurant Quarter, with a smorgasbord of world cuisine, live music and family entertainment.

Visitors enjoyed fabulous street food and alfresco fine dining served by over 70 stalls and restaurants along South End, Croydon’s restaurant street on Sunday, 26th June. Tina Dedman, Redrow Divisional Sales and Marketing Director, said: “As a key developer in Croydon, we’re proud to have supported such a successful event. “There was a real community atmosphere throughout the day with local and prospective residents coming along to check out the action. It’s great to see that the community is united with businesses and the council showing the cultural and fun side of Croydon.”

Menta-Redrow - one of the longest-serving developers in Croydon’s regeneration - was delighted to step in as headline sponsor to ensure the hugely popular event went ahead. The developer also supported one of the stalls, Urban Smoothie, which allows the public to create the own smoothies with bicycle-power (pictured above, second left, with Croydon Mayor Wayne Trakas-Lawlor). Linda Arthur, Chair of South Croydon Business Association and owner of Bar Txt thanked Menta-Redrow and declared the 2016 Festival the ‘best ever.’ “This was a record-breaking Food Festival, attracting businesses and foodies to the Restaurant Quarter from all over Croydon and beyond,” she said. “It was a fabulous, sunny day – there was such a great atmosphere, with brilliant food and entertainment. I want to thank all our sponsors – particularly Menta-Redrow – and everyone who came along for supporting us. It would not be possible without you.”

Foodies were delighted with the range of dishes on offer, from French and English cuisine to Caribbean and south east Asian – many of the stalls were so popular they sold out before the end of the afternoon. There was entertainment for the whole family with three stages hosting live bands, DJs, soloists and choirs, as well as face painting and street entertainers for the kids. The new Mayor of Croydon, Wayne Trakas-Lawlor formally opened the event and thanked Menta-Redrow and everyone who supported it.

“I am enormously impressed by the amount of work that has gone into making this amazing Festival such a success,” said the Mayor, whose theme for his year in office is ‘Business, Arts and Culture.’ “The number of businesses who’ve got together with the local community to put on this magnificent event is amazing, and really good news for Croydon. “It’s now in its fifth year and I think that tells you everything you need to know about how it has grown - I hope it becomes bigger, badder and even better in the future. “It shows the future is bright - and the future is Croydon.”

Paul Pratt from Sanderstead brought three generations of his family along. He said: “It’s a lovely event with a great atmosphere. The food is excellent, and the atmosphere is really good.” Among the acts providing top class music across the three stages, were John Butler’s Penny Fathers and Da Groove Station, while Beats & Eats and live music venue Scream Lounge showcased top acts and new talent. In addition to Menta-Redrow, the sponsors included were the Croydon Partnership, London Borough of Croydon, Bagattis Restaurant, Bryden Johnson Partnership, Streets Ahead Estate Agents and Quantum. It was organized by White Label Creative for the SCBA.