Recession? What recession? That was the reaction of the many food producers at this year’s Gwledd Conwy Feast. With visitor numbers up by a fantastic 40 per cent and traders reporting record takings, the event beat all its own records.

“I felt we had single-handedly bucked the economic downturn in Conwy,” said Chris Burton, sales executive of Patchwork Pates from Ruthin.

“This was our first time at the Feast and it was fantastic. Of all the shows we’ve done this year this was by far the best.

“There were great crowds, the position of our stall in the marquee on the quayside was amazing and the organisation was fantastic.

“I reckon at least 100 people an hour walked past our stall and many of them came from as far away as Scotland and the North East of England.”

Conwy’s traditional mussel fishermen were also delighted with the turn out and good weather allowed them to stock up on mussels for hungry visitors.

“We sold around 720 kg of mussels over the weekend, that’s more than last year,” said manager Trevor Hughes. “A lot of people who hadn’t eaten them before were trying them cooked from the stalls outside and then coming in to buy some to take home.

“We could do with a Feast every month,” he added.

The event benefited both traders in the marquees and the town’s shops, according to Ieuan Edwards of Conwy’s renowned butcher’s shop.

“People were spending from the word go both at the stall and in our shop,” said Ieuan. “That’s not normally the case because while we’re ordinarily the only butcher in Conwy whereas at the Feast weekend we’re one of ten or more. “But this year shop sales were very good too. My only worry was that there would be a lot of empty stalls when people sold out. We were selling so fast we had sold everything by Sunday lunchtime.”

Julie Irvine at Conwy Fine Wines was also delighted with her first Feast.

“It was fabulous, our best weekend yet in the five months we’ve been here,” she said. “We networked with a lot of people and made a lot of new contacts. It couldn’t really have been any better.”

South Caernarfon Creameries were also at the festival for the first time.

“We do about ten shows a year and this was definitely one of the best,” said sales account executive Aleksandra Janczukowicz.

Organiser Jane Hughes said she was delighted with the success of the event, which had been blessed with good weather.

“One of the highlights for me was the link between farming and fishing and the actual products of that which were all together on the quayside.”

The event had offered real value for money, she added, with the £4 entry allowing free access to Conwy Castle, Conwy RSPB reserve and the Royal Cambrian Gallery’s Richard Wilson exhibition.

“Cadw allowing free entry to Conwy Castle for Feast-goers was a tremendous boost for us this year,” she said. “The re-enactment societies’ events in the castle, with food and entertainment from medieval and Viking times, added a real dimension to the weekend.

“Now we’ve got to match this again next year!