FOOD and drink from across the Exmoor area were being showcased for MPs in Westminster on Tuesday (April 21) as a number of local businesses made the trip to London.

The ‘Flavours from Exmoor’ event was hosted in the House of Commons by West Somerset MP Rachel Gilmour.

It brought together several producers and organisations to represent the strength and diversity of Exmoor’s food and drink offer on a national stage.

Among those attending were Visit Exmoor, Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor Distillery, Black Bear Brewery, Exmoor Game School, Wellhayes Vineyard, the Hill Farming Network, and Exmoor Tea.

Also taking part was William Sitwell, a local restaurateur, journalist, BBC MasterChef judge, and ambassador for the Somerset and Exmoor Local Visitor Economy Partnership.

Two finalists from the 2025 Exmoor Young Chef competition were also in attendance, celebrating their success and highlighting the work of Visit Exmoor and partners to promote career opportunities within the hospitality sector.

Mrs Gilmour said: “It has been my privilege to work with Visit Exmoor to plan this incredible event.

“I am delighted to be bringing food and drink manufacturers from across Exmoor to the House of Commons to showcase some of their incredible products, as well as the stunning scenery included within the ‘Exmoor Farms: A Year on the Moor’ book, through the Exmoor Hill Farming Network.

“I hope many Parliamentarians will truly get a flavour of Exmoor, and hear directly from my constituents about the critical role they play in the visitor economy on Exmoor, which is a major driver of employment in my constituency.

“Having these fantastic local businesses in the House of Commons is going to be really special for me.

“I am very much looking forward to the conversations which will flow from this event, across all parties, to really show that Exmoor is a part of the South West’s past, present, and future, whether it is through agriculture, tourism, or the wider Exmoor economy.

“I hope this will be a timely reminder that the rural economy is its own powerhouse and deserves to be treated as such.”

‘Flavours from Exmoor’ provided an opportunity for Parliamentarians, advisers, and industry stakeholders to engage directly with businesses which play a central role in Exmoor’s visitor economy.

Tourism and the wider visitor economy generates more than £630 million of economic activity each year across Exmoor, with food and drink forming a critical part of the overall offer attracting visitors.

Visit Exmoor chief executive Emma Thomasson said: “This is a valuable opportunity to represent Exmoor at a national level and to highlight the role our businesses play within the visitor economy.

“Local provenance, food, and drink are a vital part of what attracts people to Exmoor, and the businesses attending are a core part of that offer.

“It also gives us a platform to highlight both the challenges and the opportunities to grow our rural visitor economy, and the importance of supporting the small businesses at the heart of it, where the visitor economy underpins jobs, investment, and long-term sustainability.”