New initiative formed to help promote food and drink businesses in Exeter

Created by Visit Exeter, the Exeter Food & Drink Trail aims to embrace businesses that celebrate, create and sell local produce. Businesses that have already signed up to the initiative include Quicke’s Farm Shop, Exeter Brewery, Pebblebed Wines, Darts Farm, Hotel du Vin and Exeter Gin.

Visit Exeter hopes to attract an even broader range of artisan businesses, producers and restaurateurs to the self-guided trail, so that they too can benefit from visitor trips to Exeter and the Greater Exeter area. The trail is expected to become a key resource for visitors looking to discover the area’s must-visit shops, eateries, bars, pubs and producers.

The creation of the initiative was supported by recent consumer research conducted by Visit Exeter, which shows that 98 per cent of respondents like to support local food and drink producers, and 89 per cent would be interested in an Exeter food and drink trail.

Catherine Hill, service lead in marketing, tourism and events at Visit Exeter said, “Exeter has previously been voted one of the top places to eat out in the UK by the Which Good Food Guide and we want to build on this by creating a new food and drink trail that shines a light on the astounding range of produce in the city, its surrounding countryside and waters. There is no doubt that our sum is far greater than our parts, and that is why we’re launching our drive to recruit food and drink producers, restaurateurs and retailers to be part of the trail.”

“Our research shows that there’s huge appetite for the trail, local food and drink producers, food events taking place on the trail, and for food and drink establishments that source and celebrate local produce. We aim to satisfy that appetite through the self-guided trail, which is being created to boost footfall, visitor numbers and overall spend with businesses that form part of the trail.

“Our goal is to have a critical number of businesses on board by the end of July, if not earlier, so that we can go to print and online with the self-guided trail guide by August, in good time for our planned consumer launch.”

Mitch Tonks, chef and founder of Rockfish said, “Devon is a serious food destination - there’s no doubt about that and to have a trail like this in one of the county’s biggest and most influential cities is so great. This trail will be able to showcase what we in Devon already know: Exeter’s absolute best, the hidden gems, the independent and artisan producers and growers, the fantastic group operations who provide quality and consistency and who generate great loyalty and fans in their customers.”