Knutsford tasting tours idea inspired by New York initiative

The aim is to run tasting tours of the town’s restaurants and eateries, based on a similar scheme in Greenwich Village in New York.

In New York people take part in a guided tour of eight eateries over two and a half hours, spending 10 to 15 minutes at each tasting venue.

The Taste Knutsford tours are being considered by Knutsford Town Council, and the idea has won the support of numerous businesses.

“Town centre businesses are very concerned about lack of footfall in the town,” said town centre manager Sandra Curties.

“While supportive of events and the feelgood factor they bring, many events are one-offs and do not bring consistent footfall into the town centre.

“The current retail environment is challenging, and town centres have to offer an experience that cannot be brought online.

“This tour offers that experience, while providing an opportunity to promote Knutsford and encourage people on the tour to stay and spend.

“Taste Knutsford is aimed at capitalising on Knutsford’s reputation as one of the leading culinary towns in the north west.

“The tours would take place on a normal day throughout the year and involve no road closures or business interruption.

“This would help bring footfall into the town, promote our shops and heritage, as well as those businesses taking part in the tour.”

The initial costs of setting up the tour would be £1,050, for the cost of designing and printing literature, as well as a website and the research and training of the tour guide.

The majority of the costs per tour would be met by the venues taking part, and the council is looking at the possibility of staging two tours per quarter - in July, October, January and April.

Businesses expressing an interest in taking part are Booths, Lost and Found, Evuna, Gusto, TOSH, Real Fruit Creamery, The Courthouse, Morgan Edwards, the Market Café and The Cheese Yard.

The council’s Events Committee supported the idea, but is to seek more information on the initiative.