There have been calls for more Marlow businesses to be involved in the Pub in the Park festival after food stalls based hundreds of miles away appeared at the popular event.

Tens of thousands of people flocked to Higginson Park over the weekend for the second annual gastro-festival run by Marlow’s very own celebrity chef Tom Kerridge.

Around 40,000 revellers enjoyed four days of music, food and drink from top artists and Michelin-starred chefs.

Marlow business leaders hailed this year’s event a success at a meeting of the chamber of commerce on Monday (May 21), however some aired concerns that there were few Marlow-based businesses at the event.

President of the chamber, Aimee Smith, said: “The event itself was fantastic, I thought it was well organised, looked great.

“However wondering round one comment I did make was it would be lovely to see more local businesses and suppliers at the event.

“We have Marlow Cheese Company, they weren’t there, yet there were four or five cheese companies.

“That would be my only feedback, if organisers could connect with the business communities to ask them when there is a relevant representation to be made would they like to make it, then that would be wonderful.

“I think that would be good for everybody, local retailers and the community as well.”

Bucks County councillor for Marlow, Alex Collingwood, agreed that more needed to be done to make the festival more of a community event rather than “a money making machine”.

In March it was revealed organisers could be set to pay out up to £45,000 to use the park – following complaints the £5,000 paid last year was “ridiculous”.