SOME 10,000 people enjoyed the best food and wine along Clacton’s seafront over the weekend.

Around 60 stalls gave a wide variety of choice, with curry pies, Norwegian baking, and German sausage adding to the mix on Marine Parade West.

Organiser Don Quinn, who masterminded Colchester’s recent Party In the Park, declared the Clacton Food & Wine Festival a “roaring success” and added preparations are already underway for next year.

“Some 5,000 a day walked through the free event and had such a great time. The seafront location near Martello is one of the most beautiful spots of the coastline,” he said.

Though a couple of traders felt a few showers Sunday afternoon put a dampener on things, Don said that just meant people enjoying the beer tent or the cooking displays from chefs Malcolm Long and Matt Wilbey.

Richard Wyatt of Little Clacton said the show was really good and he appreciated the choice of different foods, though he didn’t feel the event was a busy as last year.

Gemma Smith and her children Holly and Olivia enjoyed the ravioli from local caterers Green Cow.

Among the traders, mother and daughter team Adrienne and Penny reported good sales of their Nut House Shortbreads.

They have been in business for 11 years, a venture that started in Tendring village when mum Adrienne started making and selling jam.

Penny branched out into shortbread, saying nobody else does it.

Now they sell to almost 20 shops across the district, also making beeswax candles.

Kerry Watson of Kerry’s Sweet Cakes has operated for six years and three months ago, opened a shop in Clacton town centre.

“Business has been very good. I have my regulars and people enjoy what I make,” Kerry added.

The Essex Brewery from Ingatestone felt business was quieter than last year, which owner Ian Chisholm blamed on uncertainty caused by Brexit.

The business originally started in 1836, but was ‘reborn’ two years ago, making a range of 40 beers, 25 or so of which regularly appear at events across the county and down to London.

Making its Clacton debut was the Colchester-based Norwegian Bakers.

Seller Carlos Escalant from Nicaragua said trade was very good and he had met many lovely people.

Edgar Lewis of Debenham-based Curry Pies was also having his first Clacton show, which he felt was ”a bit quiet” due to a lack of sun on Sunday afternoon.

This weekend, Don Quinn has organised the Slow Food festival at Colchester, an event he said would be much bigger and with music and other entertainment.