The growing worldwide appetite for all things Wrexham is feeding the demand for walking tours which reveal the city’s tasty foodie treats.
With the city and its football club basking in the global limelight thanks to the Welcome to Wrexham TV documentary series, visitors are increasingly keen to get their teeth into the culinary delights of local food and drink venues.
That’s according to Gareth Boyd, who launched the walking food tours in the city in August.
He said interest in Wrexham had mushroomed quickly thanks to the success after the series showcased the turnaround in fortunes of Wrexham AFC and the exploits of the club’s owners, Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
Gareth, who also has tours in Chester, Liverpool and Shrewsbury as part of his Walking Food Tours UK operation, will be talking about his recipe for success at a business breakfast meeting at the William Aston Hall in Wrexham.
The meeting, from 8am to 10am, on Tuesday, November 19, is being organised by Theatr Clwyd, in conjunction with Wrexham University and is being supported by the Wrexham Business Professionals organisation that’s made up of company owners, managers and skilled professionals working together to promote regional prosperity
The other keynote speakers will be Wrexham Council’s chief executive Ian Bancroft and Professor Joe Yates, Wrexham University’s Vice Chancellor.
The event is being hosted by Liam Evans-Ford, the executive director and CEO of Theatr Clwyd which took over the running of the William Aston Hall – Wrexham’s largest auditorium and concert venue – in 2022.
Gareth said: “After the success of Chester, Liverpool and Shrewsbury, the plan was always to get onto Wrexham, and I suppose the Hollywood bubble accelerated the desire to do that.
“As we know, Wrexham is really on the up, and so it was a bit of a no-brainer.
“Historically it hasn’t really been associated with food and drink. You have the football, you have St Giles Church, the miners, but now from a food and drink perspective, it’s really on the up too.”
Gareth said many of the guests on the food tours are coming from around the world to the city to take in a football match and are keen to enjoy its food and drink too, as well as learn more about its culture and history.
He said: “I’ve had guests from Canada, I’ve had corporate tours, firms have used it for team-building and networking. Many of our guests have never been to Wrexham before.
“It’s a very exciting time in Wrexham. Every time I go into Wrexham city centre there is a new venue open. And the tours are not just about the food and drink, it’s about the culture, it’s about meeting the business owners, hearing their stories, hearing about the food.
“It’s about highlighting just what a great place Wrexham is, and about the exciting journey the city centre is going through at the moment.
“Our guests have been pleasantly surprised about what the city offers, both from a cultural perspective and from a food and drink perspective.
“I’ve had international guests who have come for a football game, but also want to enjoy a food tour and learn more about the city.
“It is very much a true partnership with the venues on the tour, the independent businesses we work with, whether that’s selling wine, cocktails, amazing savouries or desserts, and helping to put them on the map as well, to that international and local audience.
“It’s all about bringing them additional business, possibly repeat business.
“It’s supporting the local food and drink economy as well.
“I find out about our guests’ dietary requirements and curate the tour accordingly.
“To the build-up to that, I’ve built a rapport with venue operators around Wrexham and put them on our food and drink map.
“I’m looking to continue to develop business partnerships with new venues in the city and really just play a part in an exciting time for Wrexham in terms of showcasing independent food and drink.”
Gareth said his tour guides were passionate and knowledgeable about the cities and towns they worked in, not just about the food and drink, but about their history and culture.
The proud Welshman added: “As the business develops in Wrexham, I will be looking for more passionate, enthusiastic and local guides to support the developing culinary scene in the city.”
He said he came up with the idea of setting up food tours in the region after enjoying a food tour experience in New York City.
And he said the tours were an ideal way to celebrate family occasions and get-togethers, with full information about the tours on the company’s website: https://walkingfoodtoursuk.co.uk/
According to Louise Harper, a leading member of Wrexham Business Professionals, the success of the walking food tours was another indicator of the city’s growing reputation as a must-visit destination.
She said: “Theatr Clwyd and William Aston Hall are key players in the future prosperity of the creative industries in our region.
“The venues bring in visitors from near and far, providing first class entertainment, and there is a whole host of exciting developments going on at the sites.
Fellow member Ian Edwards said: “It will be interesting for businesses to hear more about those developments at the business breakfast on November 19.
“By working together with key partners, including our local theatres, we can help bring prosperity to our businesses and residents alike, and celebrate the enterprise, creativity and expertise we have in abundance here in Wrexham.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Liam Evans-Ford who added: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to run William Aston Hall so that we can build for the future and ensure this brilliant venue reaches its full potential.
“Arts and culture have an important role to play in the making of modern Wrexham and the burgeoning collaboration between Theatr Clwyd, Wrexham University, Wrexham Council, with the support of the local business community, allied to the excitement generated by Wrexham AFC, means we are on the cusp of a hugely exciting future for the city.”
