Aylsham is celebrating 20 years as a Cittaslow and Slow Food town.
To mark this special occasion, the north Norfolk town has organised a series of events throughout the year, beginning with the International Street Food Fair in July, showcasing a variety of cuisines from around the world, followed by a week-long celebration of food and drink, highlighting the town’s commitment to local produce and sustainable living through its hospitality outlets.
The festivities will culminate in Aylsham’s renowned Food Festival in October, organised by Slow Food.
However, SFA faces the persistent problem of an ageing membership with no new active members to help sustain our community commitments.
Patrick Prekopp, Chair Cittaslow Aylsham
CITTASLOW COMMITTEE 2025: (L to r) Mo Anderson-Dungar (WI, Country Market); Jean St Clair (U3A); Councillor Mary Evans; Wendy Sadler (Aylsham in Bloom); Councillor Patrick Prekopp (Chair); Mike Downes (Aylsham Rotary); Giles Margarson (Aylsham Community Partnership); Jayne Andrew (Heritage Centre); Phil Chapman (Locum Clerk); and Councillor Kevin Cunnane.
2024
- Aylsham Business ‘Forum’ – July: Breakfast meeting – open to all businesses in Aylsham – organised to replace the de-activated Aylsham Business Enterprise Forum.
- River Bure Action – August: A new group set up to monitor water quality in the River Bure.
- Visit Aylsham – August: Collaboration with Broadland District Council and Visit England tourism agency to promote and develop tourism in Aylsham.
- Market Towns Conference – September: Aylsham Cittaslow agreed to review the town’s rapidly changing economy, housing developments, online shopping, etc and find workable solutions to improve the visitor experience.
- ABC – September: The newly-formed Aylsham Business Consortium (ABC) joined Cittaslow, with 49 businesses signed up.
- Climate Emergency – October: Town Council agrees a proposal from Aylsham Climate Emergency to fund the blister pack recycling scheme for 2025. Donations of blister packs were increasing, and ACE had received requests for information from towns who wished to set up similar projects.
- Norfolk’s Rural Capital of Food & Drink – November: Proposed this could be applied to Aylsham with its growing reputation as a “foodie town.”
2025
- Slow Food Aylsham – February: To co-sponsor Family Learning Day at Aylsham High School with the Aylsham and District Rotary Club, who will also supply volunteers.
- Aylsham Show – March: Cittaslow Aylsham has organised grouping up to 10 community groups under one marquee – the “Town Tent” – at the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association’s event in August, following a restructure of the entry model.
Projects
- Aylsham – Norfolk’s Rural Capital of Food & Drink.
- Visit Aylsham – Market Towns regeneration.
- Banking hub for Aylsham.