The growing worldwide appetite for all things Wrexham is feeding the demand for walking tours which reveal the city\u2019s tasty foodie treats.<\/p>\n
With the city and its football club\u00a0basking 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.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s according to Gareth Boyd, who launched the walking food tours in the city in August.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s owners, Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s made up of company owners, managers and skilled professionals working together to promote regional prosperity<\/p>\n
The other keynote speakers will be Wrexham Council\u2019s chief executive Ian Bancroft and Professor Joe Yates, Wrexham University\u2019s Vice Chancellor.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 Wrexham\u2019s largest auditorium and concert venue – in 2022.<\/p>\n
Gareth said: \u201cAfter 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we know, Wrexham is really on the up, and so it was a bit of a no-brainer.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorically it hasn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI\u2019ve had guests from Canada, I\u2019ve had corporate tours, firms have used it for team-building and networking. Many of our guests have never been to Wrexham before.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019s about the culture, it\u2019s about meeting the business owners, hearing their stories, hearing about the food.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about highlighting just what a great place Wrexham is, and about the exciting journey the city centre is going through at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur guests have been pleasantly surprised about what the city offers, both from a cultural perspective and from a food and drink perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had international guests who have come for a football game, but also want to enjoy a food tour and learn more about the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very much a true partnership with the venues on the tour, the independent businesses we work with, whether that\u2019s selling wine, cocktails, amazing savouries or desserts, and helping to put them on the map as well, to that international and local audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about bringing them additional business, possibly repeat business.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s supporting the local food and drink economy as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find out about our guests\u2019 dietary requirements and curate the tour accordingly.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the build-up to that, I\u2019ve built a rapport with venue operators around Wrexham and put them on our\u00a0food and drink map.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The proud Welshman added: \u201cAs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n