Over 11,000 people attended Longton Exchange Shopping Centre's Food and Drink Festival last weekend - making it one of their busiest events to date.

Vendors such as local favourite, La Piccolo Pizzeria, were starting to sell out by 2pm, with many having to restock mid festival due to the significant amount of people that attended.

The centre is brimming with new independent life after the opening of So Very Dog in the Arts and Culture Quarter. This, alongside the soon to open Keep it Local will continue the centre's focus on bringing independent stores back to the streets of Longton. 

Feedback from the vendors at the festival was overwhelmingly positive with many saying they are eager to return should the centre produce a follow up festival. 

Tenants at the centre were pleased with the success and increased footfall noting new coffee shop The Coffee House had their busiest day to date.

Chris Ward, Centre Manager at Longton Exchange said: "I must express thanks to all who attended, both stallholders and guests.

"Also to some local groups, all of whom came together to support what we are trying to do in getting people back into Longton shopping.

"These are Longton Central Hall, St Gregory's Scout Group - Longton, Stoke Food Bank, Longton Park, Hanley BID, Urban Wilderness and Longton Market."

Longton Exchange hosted the event with their charity of the year in mind - Stoke Air Ambulance - who's volunteers were actively participating in the festivities and gathering donations.

The vendors on the day were: The Glost House, Ali's Kitchen, Uzma's Kitchen, The Bake Bar UK, Linny's Kitchen, Barnett's Cooked Meat, Sharon's Traditional Cheese, Dot's Sweets, Project D, La Piccola Pizzeria, Perry and Porter, The Fabulous Fizz Bar, S FOR Sweets, Big Baps, Moroccan Food Stoke, Peri Peri Guyz, MAW Fruit and Veg.

READ MORE: Plans for new extension to private social club in Stoke-on-Trent 

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.