Food people join forces in Good Grub Club

* Guests mingle at the launch of the Good Grub Club.

An innovative group of Denbighshire and Wrexham farms and businesses have come together to boost the profile of food and drink made, grown or raised within the region. 

Last Thursday farmers and food producers, restaurants, cafes and pubs, and two local delicatessens were at Plas Newydd to launch the Good Grub Club with the aim of improving the availability and visibility of food and drink produced within 15 miles of the Dee Valley.

The expectation is that by improving the sourcing and quality of food and drink available, visitors and residents will buy more food locally, strengthening the local economy and encouraging return visits from tourists who have enjoyed our local cuisine. 

Several landmark restaurants in the Dee Valley are leading the way – the Corn Mill, the Chainbridge Hotel, and Gales of Llangollen are members, as are both delicatessens in Llangollen, Porters and Baileys.

Food producers involved include Sabor de Amor, The Cabin Kitchen, Temptations Bakery and The Bakehouse. Treflach Farm and Pen Y Lan Pork are just a couple of the farms who have joined, keen to explore new business opportunities that will grow from this collaboration.

In the first year, the club intends to boost marketing for all member businesses, increasing their profile locally and across the region.

It also plans to organize frequent networking opportunities to help members get to know each other and explore business opportunities.

As further funding is secured, the club will offer introductory and masterclass training opportunities, particularly targeting young people with an interest in working in the local food and drink sector.

The club hopes to work closely with Hamper Llangollen (October 14/15) to capitalize on shared marketing and business opportunities. 

Funding for the Good Grub Club has come from Cadwyn Clwyd, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, and the Denbighshire County Council Economic Development Team.

David Shiel, AONB Senior Countryside Officer, said: “The Dee Valley is an outstanding landscape producing some fantastic food and supporting a large part of the rural economy from farmers and growers to producers and retailers. 

"We are extremely pleased to be supporting this initiative that will really strengthen these relationships and put good food at the heart of the experience of people visiting this beautiful area.”  

Robyn Lovelock, Club Secretary and founder of the Llangollen Food Assembly, said: "The focus of the club is on promoting quality local food and drink, ensuring that both top end steaks from the cows on our hillsides to the tastiest leeks growing in our valley get the profile they deserve among tourists and residents alike.”

* For more information about the club or to register as a member, please contact us via Facebook @LlanGoodGrub or email DeeValley.GoodGrubClub@gmail.com.