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Interview with Tim Barford. Founder of VegFest UK

September 9, 2013 by India Leigh

Interview with Tim Barford.  Founder of VegFest UK

With our GIVEAWAY currently running (have you entered yet?) for free tickets to VegFest London 2013, I thought it would be interesting to find out just how an idea becomes a festival. Also how one man morphs into an entrepreneur, and head honcho of everything hemp. 

Tim Barford kindly found some time out from running Yaoh and managing London Vegfest, to answer a few burning questions I had for him.

Why did you set up VegFestUK?  I set up VegfestUK back in 2003, just for the crack really, seemed like a good idea for a party at the time. The vegan thing was obviously a lot smaller then so it seemed a really good idea to get it all in one place and then throw a big party around it and invite everyone to come. It’s worked a treat. Loads of people have taken their first steps towards a veggie, flexi or vegan lifestyle by coming to one of our events.
How and where did it begin?. 
The first show was in Bristol at The Watershed on November 1st 2003 – we had 40 stalls, and around 1200 visitors, plus about 300 more in the bar next door! We had a room for live music and  some demos, and also a talks room, and it went from there. There was a classic moment when a Pink Panther went round the whole show and gave every stallholder a glass of champagne – that Panther must have known what was around the corner for VegfestUK, its turned out to be an incredible success story on every level.
How it has expanded over the years, as in venues and attendance numbers?
The first few years the show grew but not dramatically – we moved to the L shed in 2004 and the show grew to 80 stalls and around 4,000 visitors which was amazing. 2005 and 2006 continued at The L Shed with similar numbers and then in 2007 the L Shed shut and we moved over the river to our current home, The Amphitheatre. This gave us room to expand as it was all outdoors, and we now have a regular 140 stalls and around 20 – 25 000 visitors over the 3 days. It’s wonderful. Brighton has expanded too, with 135 stalls and 7,000 visitors since its launch 5 years ago. And with London in its first year, we await to see how that will go, as it stands a month ahead it’s looking like a cracker
Have there been any knock on effect achievements because of the Fest?  Lots of other shows including the West Midlands and the North East Vegan Festivals have taken inspiration from our shows and gone off and started their own, which is really amazing. And a lot of people have started eating more vegan food after coming to our events – hundreds of thousands of people. And with our media and PR presence growing every year, we are reaching more and more people through a lot of different channels.
What is your vision for future events?  
My vision for future events is that every food festival in the world is a vegan festival. Might seem a long way off but that is what I am working towards. Meanwhile we’ll keep what we doing and keep it interesting and going, it’s got its own energy now, the vegan thing, its growing of its own accord cos now so many people are on this tip. It’s for real.
What is your current favourite meal (is this an impossible question? probably, I can never answer it).  I love hemp (*I should have guessed he’d say that!), especially dehulled hemp seed in smoothies. hummus and pitta with salad and olives. And noodles with chilli and garlic. Just discovered raw courgette noodles and a raw pesto which is pretty cool.

What a guy!

I can’t wait for VegFest London.  Come too!  Enter to win free tickets.

I hope to see your there.  Please come say hello.



Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Brighton, Bristol, festival, FREE TICKETS, Friday Giveaway, giveaway, HOME, Tim Barford, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegfest London 2013, Vegfest UK

Vegan MoFo 2013 Day 6 - Free Festival Tickets - Friday GIVEAWAY

September 6, 2013 by India Leigh

Vegan MoFo 2013 Day 6 – Free Festival Tickets – Friday GIVEAWAY



Come to VegfestUK London in October!  Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th.

It is one of Europe’s biggest veggie events.  Tickets are selling fast but we have 7 tickets to GIVEAWAY!!  
The event has received the backing of Sir Paul McCartney’s veggie group Meat Free Monday and has lots of great guests, including Chef Chad Sarno and American Comedian Jamie Kilstein, London’s own Ms Cupcake will be brightening up the room.  A music line up is set to create a great atmosphere. Cookery demo’s, workshops and talks. There is always lots of vegan & veggie products and FOOD.  And the free samples?!  rave.rave!

The show features
- over 180 stalls
- lots of free samples
- one-off special offers on many products
- 12 handpicked veggie caterers
- talks on Nutrition and Lifestyle
- cookery demos
- yoga workshops
- Tai Chi demonstration
- live comedy
- live music
- kids’ entertainment
- celebrity presence from top chefs, athletes, entertainers, etc.
and much more!
This exciting event takes place on October 5th 6th (11am-7pm each day) at Kensington Olympia (West Hall), www.london.vegfest.co.uk
You can find out more in the event programme here www.london.vegfest.co.uk/programme

 

Tickets are £10 (standard), £6 (concession), £2 (under 16),But advance tickets available on BUY ONE GET ONE FREE (limited period only) at www.london.vegfest.co.uk/tickets

Enter the giveaway, if you’d like a chance to win free tickets.
Definitely come and TURN UP HUNGRY!!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: FESTIVAL TICKETS 2013, Friday Giveaway, giveaway, HOME, London, Mofo 2013, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegan Month Of Food, Vegfest UK

RushPRNews: Vegfest UK Competition Free Vegan Recipes for Vegetarian Vegan Diets

May 17, 2013 by India Leigh

RushPRNews: Vegfest UK Competition Free Vegan Recipes for Vegetarian   Vegan Diets

RushPRNews: Vegfest UK Competition Free Vegan Recipes for Vegetarian Vegan Diets

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: Bristol, cooking competition, HOME, vegan news, Vegfest UK

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Hi, my name is India. Welcome to A Vegan Obsession. This site is for you to enjoy the delicious discoveries of a gluten free, vegan traveller and cook. Read More…

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