2023 Alresford Watercress Festival
The 19th annual Alresford Watercress Festival took place at the weekend (Sunday 21 May) in glorious sunshine and was a huge success with a best ever attendance of between 18-20,000 visitors.
The day began with Beau Reilly-Taylor and Jack Sims, from Sun Hill Infants and Junior School being crowned as the 2023 Watercress King and Queen by Charlie Jeffreys, finalist in the 2022 MasterChef: The Professionals with fresh watercress crowns. The newly coronated couple then rode in a horse and cart in a joyous cavalcade of Morris men, marching bands and school children down Broad Street with the King and Queen enthusiastically throwing freshly harvested bunches of new season watercress to the equally enthusiastic crowds.
The day continued with live cookery demos to inspire home chefs to experiment with watercress. Charlie Jeffreys shared his recipe for Split Potato, Stuffed with Watercress Butter, Pickled Shallot and Hazelnuts, Topped with Watercress Pesto which he had made on the MasterChef show. Mark Hix made Crispy Oyster, Steak and Watercress & Horseradish Salad and a Classic Watercress Soup. He personally auctioned off portions of his dishes to the audience and as a result of this, and donations made throughout the day, a phenomenal £3923.19 was raised for Abby’s Heroes, a local children’s cancer charity. TV Chef, Lesley Waters and other chefs from popular local venues, Lainston House and The Tichbourne Arms also demonstrated their culinary skills.
For anyone needing a little retail therapy the choice was broad from food stalls to craft stalls, plants to vintage; truly something for everyone. The stalls had been encouraged to demonstrate how innovative they could be introducing watercress to their wares in the Barter’s Best awards named after Charles Barter, an important figure in the watercress industry and in establishing the Watercress Festival. Mark Hix visited the stalls to judge the entries ranging from delicious pies, watercress pesto bread, watercress infused sausage rolls but also a face mask, cough mixture, a dog muffin (which the dogs loved!) and even a watercress embroidered tea towel and apron. The winner, however, was announced as local Alresford butcher, Sole Butchers with its mouthwatering Beef and watercress burger, chosen because ‘you could really taste the peppery watercress’.
Live music, choirs, and groups together with children’s entertainers and activities meant parents could relax and enjoy the sun but although the day rolled lazily on in a relaxed, contented buzz, there was a positive pulse of excitement in the air as 3pm drew nearer heralding the start of the much-anticipated World Watercress Eating Championships! Entrants from all over Hampshire - Portsmouth, Brockenhurst, Andover, Alton, Winchester - and even Birmingham lined up to pitch their watercress eating skills against a healthy Alresford contingency, including, of course, 14-time champion Glenn Walsh. Although it was a tight contest between him and former champion, fellow local Sam Batho, Glenn pipped Sam at the post with his time of 31.29 seconds not only taking the title for the 15th consecutive year but will be announced as an official Guinness World Record. The organisers are waiting for confirmation from Guinness World Record officials.
The Alresford Watercress Festival was developed to celebrate the start of the UK watercress season and was embraced by the town known as the ‘capital of watercress’ because of its close links to the industry.
Sadly, it became clear with just one week to go, one of the main sponsors and supporters for the last 18 years had pulled out. Vitacress Salads advised that they would not be contributing this year. In contrast, other far smaller growers located elsewhere in the country continued to support the Hampshire based festival with disproportionate donations to their size because they recognise the importance of the event to the overall success of the industry.
The dedicated festival committee, made up of volunteers, does not make a profit from the free event and any income goes to the community groups that support the festival, Abby’s Heroes and of course to help pay for the following year.
Claire May, Event and Market Manager said: "We’re delighted that yesterday’s festival went so well. There was something for everyone and as always, the Alresford community welcomed thousands of people from outside the area to enjoy the day. Organisationally it was a tough year with a number of unexpected additional costs and challenges.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved who helped to make the festival such a success, including our sponsors, and especially the ones who made up the difference. We welcome any businesses or organisations that would like to get involved; it’s a really rewarding day and great fun to be part of.”