Ideal Stallholders for this event

Customer Arrival Time: 00:00
Customer Departure Time: 00:00
Admission Price: £0.00

Stallholder Arrival Time: 00:00
Stallholder Departure Time: 00:00
Cost of Stall: £On Request

Food Shows
Markets
Event Date(s)

08/07/2016 - 10/07/2016 - 3 day(s)

Information For Trader/Participants

The Royal Military canal is one of Britain's most important historical landmarks, built at a time when the country was threatened with invasion by Napoleon's armies and today a beautiful and scenic part of the Kent and East Sussex countryside. Where better then to host a food and drink festival than on the banks of this fascinating waterway and just to show that there are no hard feelings, we are going to let the French bring a stall or two.

Hythe has a rich seafood tradition with a small fleet of fishing boats still operating from the shores of Hythe Bay. In more recent years, the town has become an increasingly attractive home for younger families and the upwardly mobile who can commute easily to London. A food and drink festival is long overdue in the town and we are looking forward to a successful first outing in this our most Southerly venture into the Garden of England.

Local producers and businesses are particularly welcome to apply for a stall. Please submit your booking with a full description of your products - photos may be requested.

Information For Visitors

Our food festivals are designed to promote the cultural identity of the local area against a regional, national and international backdrop, showcasing food and drink products and associated attractions to create a quality community event and provide visitors with an entertaining and memorable experience.

The backdrop of the Hythe canal stretch will certainly help to create that memorable experience which together with children's entertainment, a programme of live music, cooking demos and craft beer bar all adds up to a tasty offer.

Please visit our Events Visitors page for a list of stalls that will be attending.

Interesting Facts About The Venue

In the aftermath of the French Revolution, a young military genius named Napoleon Bonaparte emerged from the turmoil with a vision of a united Europe under French rule. Under his leadership France set about waging war on its neighbours, declaring war on England in 1793. An uneasy peace was settled in 1802 through the Peace of Amiens, but the countries were soon at war again. Napoleon saw England as the key to conquering Europe:

'All my thoughts are directed towards England. I want only for a favourable wind to plant the Imperial Eagle on the Tower of London.'

Once again England faced the threat of invasion and, with Napoleon massing an army of some 130,000 troops and 2,000 boats on the French coast near Boulogne, thoughts turned to how to defend the Romney Marsh - a low-lying stretch of coast which was expected to be the landing point for any French invasion.

On October 30 1804 the first sod of the Royal Military Canal was dug at Seabrook. Harsh winter weather and severe flooding, as well as difficulty in attracting labourers - known as navvies - meant that the original completion date appeared wildly optimistic.

At its peak there were 1,500 men working on the canal. The canal was dug entirely by hand, using picks and shovels and the soil was carried away in wheelbarrows. Once the canal was dug it was lined with clay. The change of command and the greater work force speeded progress so that by August 1806 the canal was open from Seabrook to the River Rother. Iden Lock was completed in September 1808, which linked the canal to the River Rother and Rye Harbour, effectively turning the Romney Marsh into an island, but it wasn't until April 1809 that the canal was actually completedwww.marketsquaregroup.co.uk/