Hampshire Fare takes to the National Stage
On St George’s Day, Luke Murphy, Member of Parliament for Basingstoke, hosted a special event in Parliament in collaboration with Hampshire Fare, celebrating the very best of Hampshire and Isle of Wight (IOW) food and drink. The event drew significant footfall and quickly became one of the most talked-about receptions in Westminster that day.
Held on England’s national day, the event brought together a range of local producers to showcase the quality, craftsmanship and pride that define English produce. Guests sampled products, met the businesses behind them and heard first-hand how local producers are contributing to the UK economy.
Organised in partnership with Hampshire Fare, the county’s leading food and drink network, the event highlighted the strength of Hampshire and IOW’s food culture and the people who sustain it. From coast and countryside to downland and forest, the region’s natural landscape supports a rich and diverse food offer, transformed by skilled producers into some of the finest food and drink in the country.
Mr Murphy organised the event to put Hampshire’s food and drink firmly on the national stage, bringing producers directly into Parliament so MPs and staff from across all four nations of the UK could see first-hand the quality and innovation coming out of the county.
The partnership aimed to show that Hampshire and IOW stand alongside the very best food regions in the country. From independent producers to established artisan brands, the county’s offer reflects the strength of English produce at its best.
Speaking after the event, Luke Murphy MP said: ‘I was proud to work with Hampshire Fare to bring these outstanding local producers into Parliament. The organisation does vital work championing businesses across our county and helping them grow’.
Natasha Dochniak of Hampshire Fare said: ‘Bringing Hampshire & the IOW producers into Parliament was a real moment of pride for Hampshire Fare, celebrating not just the quality of our food and drink, but the people, passion and craftsmanship behind it’.
