EAT:Festival, a popular food and drink festival could return to Nailsea despite organisers announcing the festival in December 2022 would be their last in the town.

Nailsea had been running events since 2019, working in partnership with the town council and Somerset Farmers Market.

Speaking at the March Nailsea Town Council meeting Bev and Sarah Milner Simons, who runs Eat:Festivals across the South West, said their decision to pull out of the North Somerset town was because they had achieved what they set out to do, however they also admitted that being unable to secure a commercial sponsor for the Nailsea festival was a contributing factor to their decision.

Bev and Sarah Milner Simons said: “When we were asked to work in Nailsea the farmers' market was not performing as desired and there was a shop vacancy rate problem. We created a busy destination event for the town and worked alongside the town council to help the market move from Colliers Walks to the High Street and Crown Glass Shopping Centre.

"We then brokered the deal with Somerset Farmers' Markets to take on Nailsea Farmers' Market which has proven to be very successful. The shop vacancy rate has reduced and the market continues to thrive. We feel that we achieved what was asked of us.”

The meeting was also told the organisers pay more than £1,000 for a licence in North Somerset compared to £35 in some of the other areas they hold festivals in.

The decision by eat:Festivals to leave the town was met with dismay by members of the community and as a result councillors are keen to see the event return.

In a letter to the council in November 2022 Bev and Sarah said pulling out of Nailsea had not been an easy decision to make.

She added: “The support of North Somerset Council, Nailsea Town Council and the Crown Glass Shopping Centre has been invaluable but the continuing high costs of licensing and road closures means we need to look long and hard at the economics of every festival.

“We are very grateful for your financial support but don't think the event should rely on town council funding and we have been unable to attract a commercial sponsor. We are continuing to deliver festivals in (other areas of) North Somerset.”

Town council clerk, Jo Duffy, confirmed the council will be working closely with the organisers over the coming weeks in the hope that an agreement can be reached for eat:Festivals to return Nailsea later in the year.