UK Food Events 2008
Pershore Plum Festival
Friday 1 August 2008 - Monday 25 August 2008
Festival at Pershore, Worcestershire
The Pershore Plum Fair runs throughout the whole of the month of August, culminating in a grand finale on August Bank Holiday. There's an exhibition touring through Pershore, a plethora of plum varieties to try and trees to grow your own, a plum stone rhyming competition, treasure hunt and a farmers market.
Entry Free
www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk
Foodies at the Festival
Saturday 23 August - Sunday 24 August 2008, 10am-6pm
Festival at The Sheraton Hotel & Festival Square, Edinburgh EH3 9SR
Foodies at the Festival is brand new this year - and the perfect place to make the most of gorgeous Scottish food and drink. There will be whisky and real ale tastings, a local produce market with chefs from local restaurants advising on their best dishes, a cookery theatre and, of course, plenty to eat and drink.
Entry £10
Contact enquiries@foodiesfestival.com
www.foodiesfestival.com
Totally Tomato Show
Saturday 6 September - Sunday 7 September 2008, 10.30am start
Show at West Dean Gardens, West Dean, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0QZ
If you're a tomato fan, you'll be in heaven at the Totally Tomato Show at West Dean. With over 150 varieties on show from the walled kitchen garden and Victorian glasshouses, revelling in glorious names such as Brandywine and Purple Calabash, there will also be cookery demonstrations, growing tips and tastings and tomatoes and tomato-based products, including those by Ouse Valley, to buy.
Entry From £7.25
Contact 01243 818 210
www.westdean.org.uk
Lobster & Crab Feast
Sunday 7 September 2008, 10am start
Festival at Clovelly, Devon
Bideford Bay lobsters, a seafod kitchen on the quay, crab demonstrations, fresh fish stalls, wine tastings - all part of the Lobster & Crab Feast in Clovelly when the local seafood is at its best.
ww2.clovelly.co.uk
Speciality & Fine Food Fair
Sunday 7 September - Tuesday 9 September 2008
Fair at Grand Hall Olympia, London
A real boon for the trade, The Speciality & Fine Food Fair - now in its 8th year - continues to showcase the best in the business. This year there will be 700 producers offering their produce as well as the new Speciality Chocolate Fair, Great Taste Awards and the Fine Food Forum.
Entry Free - Not open to members of the public
www.specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk
Ludlow Food Festival
Friday 12 September - Sunday 14 September 2008, 10am start
Festival at Ludlow, Shropshire
With more than 130 of the region's best food and drink producers, Ludlow Marches Food Festival is considered by many to be the top foodie destination festivals on the calendar. With taste workshops, cookery demonstrations, a food fair in Ludlow Castle and food trails on everything from sausages to beer, you can be sure your tastebuds will be challenged.
Look out for FoodLovers Approved businesses and Henrietta at Ludlow. She'll be Championing Cheese- sampling the best cheeses local to Ludlow at 3pm on Saturday at The Olive Theatre
Entry from £5.50
Contact info@foodfestival.co.uk
www.foodfestival.co.uk
FishstockBrixham
Saturday 13 September 2008
Festival at Fish Quay, Brixham, Devon
FishstockBrixham is the first evet Seafood & Music Festival. A true 'boat to throat' experience and part of National Seafood Fortnight, look out for the seafood and drink pavilion, cookery classes, fresh fish stalls, with a music festival in the evening.
Entry £5
www.fishstockbrixham.co.uk
South Gloucestershire Local Food & Drink Festival
Saturday 13 September - Sunday 12 October 2008
Festival throughout South Gloucestershire
Visit a farm, bakery or brewery and see where your local food and drink is produced or watch
Local Food & Drink Festival
World Black Pudding Throwing Championships
Sunday 14 September 2008
Competition at The Royal Oak, Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, Lancashire
The aim of the Black Pudding Throwing Championships - the principal ingredient being famously made in nearby Bury - is to throw a black pudding 'swaddled' or wrapped in tights at a collection of Yorkshire puddings on a 20 foot high plinth against the side of the pub. Whoever knocks down the most wins in this foodie take on skittles.
Contact a.frost@bury.gov.uk
World Black Pudding Throwing Championships
Oxford Symposium on Food & Cookery
Friday 12 September - Sunday 14 September 2008
Conference at St Catherine's College, Oxford
This year's Oxford Symposium focuses on Vegetables: as foodstuffs, symbols and as part of the whole of the human diet, with discussion on ideas such as bio-diversity, history, vegetarianism in all its guises, global spread, science and agriculture.
Contact patsy@oxfordsymposium.org.uk
www.oxfordsymposium.org.uk
Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival
Friday 19 September - Sunday 28 September 2008
Festival along the East Suffolk coast
A week-long celebration of the best food and drink East Suffolk has to offer - taking place along the coast from Southwold to Woodbridge - culminates in a two-day extravaganza at Snape Maltings. Over 70 producers will be offering goodies, there are tastings, demonstrations, workshops and even trips out.
Entry From £5
www.aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk
Hastings Seafood & Wine Festival
Saturday 20 September 2008 - Sunday 21 September 2008, 11am start
Festival at The Stade Fishing Beach, Old Town, Hastings, Kent
Perfect for a lazysummer's day at the beach, the Seafood & Wine Festival offers a fresh fish and game barbecue, stalls selling local seafood, a wine tent with English wine from Carr Taylor Vineyards, all against a background of jazz.
Entry Free
www.visit1066country.com
Abergavenny Food Festival
Saturday 20 September - Sunday 21 September 2008
Festival at Abergavenny, Wales
Over 50 food-themed events are on offer at the Abergavenny Food Festival, with everything from a cheese and wine show, street food, cookery competitions and demonstrations and food sculpture.
And make sure you join Henrietta, judging the Best Local Sausage Maker competition at the festival at 1.30pm at the Sacla Food Academy.
Entry from £5.50
Contact 01873 850805
www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com
RSPCA Freedom Food Farm Animal Week
Monday 22 September - Sunday 28 September 2008
RSPCA Freedom Food Farm Animal Week highlights how just a few small changes to your food shopping can bring about real change for farm animals. There are events around the country - see below for details. More information on Farm Animal Week, to calculate your animal welfare footprint, recipes and for FoodLovers Approved Freedom Food Producers coming soon
Cornwall Food & Drink Festival
Friday 26 September - Sunday 28 September 2008
Festival at Festival Marquee, Lemon Quay, Truro, Cornwall
Now in its fifth year, the Cornwall Food & Drink Festival boasts over 60 food producers whose food and drink you can sample and buy. This year they are opening a Michelin table - seven local chefs will create a unique lunch menu for 10 paying guests. Of course there's pasty-crimping contests, a goats meat cookery demonstration and a local vs continental cheese tasting competition.
www.cornwallfoodanddrinkfestival.com
Great British Cheese Festival
Saturday 27 September - Sunday 28 September 2008
Festival at Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, Wales
The Great British Cheese Festival is one of the largest cheese celebrations in the country and, for the first time, has moved to dramatic Cardiff Castle. The cheese market has over 460 different cheeses to taste and buy, there are cheesemaking demonstrations and workshops and every kind of cheese accompaniment you might think of.
Entry From £8
www.thecheeseweb.com
South Somerset Food Festival
Saturday 27 September - Sunday 5 October 2008
Festival in South Somerset
There's masses going on in South Somerset to celebrate the area's local food and drink. There's foodie walks, cider tastings, food matching, pig demonstrations and butchery, Spudfest, a wild food day and the Apple Fayre and seafood festival if you're still feeling perky.
www.southsomersetfoodfestival.com
Waterperry Apple Weekend
Saturday 11 October - Sunday 12 October 2008, 10am-4.30pm
Festival at Waterperry Gardens, Wheatley, Oxfordshire
Get your mystery apples identified by the professionals at the Apple Weekend at Waterperry Gardens. They grow over 50 varieties themselves, and are offering orchard tours and advice on growing apples as part of the festivities.
www.waterperrygardens.co.uk
Aberfoyle International Mushroom Festival
Thursday 16 October - Sunday 19 October 2008
Festival at Aberfoyle, The Trossachs, Scotland
The annual mushroom festival in Aberfoyle usually has an international flavour - this year it's Spanish. Think fiesta, flamenco and fun to accompany the fungi forays, wine tastings and cookery demonstrations. For more on foraging, visit our Uncover the Wild feature.
Contact enquiries@visitaberfoyle.com
www.visitaberfoyle.com
Too Many Critics... 2008
Sunday 19 October 2008
Dinner at Royal Exchange Grand Cafe & Bar, London EC3V 3LR
Action Against Hunger invites you to join the most celebrated chefs and renowned restaurant reviewers at Too Many Critics, an exclusive fundraising feast - the critics, including Charles Campion, Jay Rayner and Matthew Fort, will lay down their pens and don their chef whites to prepare an exclusive five course banquet judged by the UK's finest chefs - Raymond Blanc, Shane Osborn and Fergus Henderson, amongst them.
All proceeds go to Action Against Hunger, and for £250 you can sit right next to the chef choice and spend the evening in the company of a food hero.
Entry Tickets from £130, group discounts available
Contact a.rowlands@aahuk.org 020 8293 6138
BBC Good Food Show Scotland
Friday 31 October - Sunday 2 November 2008
Show at SECC, Glasgow, Scotland
The BBC Good Food Show is back in Scotland. Look out for Taste masterclasses, The Great British Food Festival, a Farmers Market and the Winter Kitchen with chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and James Martin demonstrating throughout the weekend.
BBC Good Food Show Scotland
BBC Good Food Show London
Friday 14 November - Sunday 16 November 2008
Show at Olympia, London
New to this year's BBC Good Food Show is the Food Icons Theatre, featuring food heroes such as Heston Blumenthal and Nigella Lawson giving talks and demonstrations on their favourite topic - food.
BBC Good Food Show London
BBC Good Food Show Birmingham
Wednesday 26 November - Sunday 30 November 2008
Show at NEC, Birmingham
This year's Birmingham Good Food Show features masterclasses from Slow Food, tastings from wine experts and the Great British Food Festival as well as presents and foodie treats perfect for Christmas.
BBC Good Food Show Birmingham
Coming in 2009
Food Events to keep in mind for next year...
MARCH
Blossom Walks
From mid-March onwards
Tours at Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ
Cherry season kicks off with beautiful blossom from about mid-March. Brogdale, home of the National Fruit Collection, has 320 varieties of cherry trees, both traditional and modern. You can wander either at your leisure or with a guide to talk you through every stage from blossom to harvest.
Entry To be confirmed
Contact 01795 536 250
www.brogdale.org
APRIL
Blossom Picnic
April 2009, To be confirmed
Picnic at Northward Hill Cherry Orchard, Kent
Enjoy the cherry orchards in full blossom with a picnic held at the beautiful Northward Hill cherry orchard, accompanied by Japanese flute music.
Contact 01634 338 891 msep@kent.gov.uk
Lancashire Food & Drink Festival
April 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Accrington Town Hall, Blackburn Road, Accrington BB5 1LA
With TV’s Hairy Bikers opening the festival, you know there’s bound to be more on offer than just black pudding and hotpot. So stalls will be selling international goodies as well as traditional Lancashire food and there’s street entertainment and a Festival café when you need a break.
Contact 01254 380 293
www.lancashirefoodfestival.co.uk
Exeter Festival of Food & Drink
April 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Northernhay Gardens & Exeter Castle, Exeter
Taking place at two of Exeter’s most charming locations, this three-day festival celebrates the finest of the south-west’s produce. There are three food and drink pavilions, a West Country café, a cookery theatre featuring some of the best local chefs and a ‘Food is Fun’ marquee for the kids.
Entry To be confirmed
www.visitsouthwest.co.uk/exeterfoodfestival
Wear Valley Food Festival
April 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham DL14 7NR
Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Auckland Castle, this festival is a chance to enjoy the best the region has to offer. There are over 40 food stalls selling locally-produced meat, pickles, soups and bread as a taster, craft stalls, demonstrations and entertainment throughout the town.
www.bishopaucklandtown.org
Mid Wales Mouthful Food Festival
April 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at The Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys
The Mid Wales Mouthful will be showcasing the best of food and drink from Powys and the bordering counties. Look out for organic Welsh Black beef, Elan Valley mutton and local beer, cider and wine. There will be demonstrations, workshops, tasting galore and a Fruit ‘n’ Vegetorium where you can create your own vegetarian artwork.
Contact glasu@powys.co.uk
www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk/mouthful
Park Farm Cherry Blossom Day
April 2009, To be confirmed
Park Farm Cherry Orchard, Lynsted, Sittingbourne, Kent
What better place for a Spring picnic than a cherry orchard in full blossom? The Park Farm Cherry Orchard has 14 varieties of sweet cherry, mostly Kentish, which will be ripe for PYO later in the season. Meanwhile, lie back, watch the sheep graze and enjoy your picnic.
Contact info@lynsted-orchard.org.uk
www.lynsted-orchard.org.uk
MAY
New House Cherry Blossom Day
May 2009, To be confirmed
New House Cherry Orchard, New House Lane, Sheldwich, Faversham, Kent ME13 9QS
See the cherry blossom at its best – Sheldwich orchard isn’t usually open to the public so make the most of the stunning orchard in full bloom.
Contact pippa.palmar@kentdowns.org.uk
www.kentdowns.org.uk
Church Lane Cherry Orchard Walk
May 2009, To be confirmed
Church Lane Cherry Orchard, Church Lane, Stockbury, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7RD
Take a walk through Church Lane Cherry Orchard, looking at the ecosystems of the traditional orchard with Dan Tuson, author of the Kent Downs book.
Contact pippa.palmar@kentdowns.org.uk
www.kentdowns.org.uk
Wholly Herbs
May 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at West Dean College, West Dean, Chichester PO18 0QZ
Herbs are a wonderfully easy thing to grow and can make your garden or windowsill smell glorious as well as enriching your cooking. The Wholly Herbs weekend should give you plenty of new ideas for planting and cooking, but also how to dye with herbs and use them in aromatherapy.
Contact gardens@westdean.org.uk
www.westdean.org.uk
Cornish Asparagus Festival
May 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Penmere Manor Hotel, Mongleath Road, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4PN
Feast to your heart's content on the first Cornish asparagus. There will be demonstrations, tastings and talks with Penmere's head chef, entertainment for the kids and a proper Sunday lunch with local produce.
Contact Jo 01326 211 411 jo@penmere.co.uk
www.penmeremanorhotel.co.uk
Eat! Newcastle & Gateshead Food & Drink Festival
May 2009, To be confirmed
Festival throughout Newcastle and Gateshead
Celebrate the finest the north-east has to offer with a month-long celebration of local food and drink. There's a secret restaurant - open for five days only, a restaurant in total darkness to challenge the senses, and everything foodie from urban picnics to foraging.
Entry free
www.newcastlegateshead.com/eat
Ryedale Food Festival
May 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Castle Howard, York YO60 7DA
To celebrate Yorkshire produce in all its glory, the Ryedale Food Festival offers over 60 local producers, a cookery theatre, producer talks, tours of the ornamental vegetable garden for grow-your-own inspiration and workshops.
Entry Included in Garden pass
Contact 01653 648 444
www.castlehoward.co.uk
British Asparagus Festival
May 2009, To be confirmed
Festival throughout the Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire
The British Asparagus Festival takes place at various venues dotted around the Vale of Evsham, so you can drive from place to place, buying up bunches as you go. There will be a cookery theatre, asparagus auction, a farmers market and asparagus tastings, if you just can't get enough of this British delicacy in its short season.
www.britishasparagusfestival.org
Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling
May 2009, To be confirmed
Competition at Cooper's Hill, Stroud Road, Local Nature Reserve, Gloucester GL4
There are perhaps less frenetic ways to enjoy Diana Smart's Double Gloucester cheeses than chasing them down a hill, but for the more competitive amongst you, this cheese-rolling competition has been enjoyed by the locals for years. There are five races, and the first one down after the cheese wins.
www.cheese-rolling.co.uk
Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival
May 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch, Scotland
Scotland is renowned for the quality of its produce, and now you can taste for yourself at the Loch Lomond Food Festival. Everything and anything you can imagine, from game, fish, breads, soups, roasting meat, vegetables, to whisky and locally-made ales to wash it all down. There's cookery demonstrations and even a tasting table in the Food Marquee for you to give your opinion on what taste's good.
Entry Free
Contact info@lochlomondshores.com
www.lochlomondfoodanddrinkfestival.com
Bristol Vegan Fayre
May 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at The Amphitheatre & Waterfront Square, Bristol, BS1 5LL
Allegedly the biggest of its kind in the world, the Bristol Vegan Fayre is a kind of Glastonbury for vegans. Whether you're a raw foodie, looking for inspiration; a vegan wanting ideas for alternative clothing or even a committed omnivore - everyone's welcome. There's live music all weekend, over 160 stalls of vegan-friendly produce, cookery demonstrations, workshops and talks.
Entry From £5
www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk
Hive Talkin’
2009, To be confirmed
Workshop at Beechenhill Organic Farm, Ilam, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 2BD
The British honey industry and its bees need our support in National Honey Week, and what better way than to take this practical course to bee-keeping to give you a taster. You'll find out how hives work and how to find the queen and harvest honey. There is accommodation available.
Entry £50 or free to Soil Association members
Contact beechenhill@btinternet.com
www.beechenhill.co.uk
JUNE
Open Farm Sunday
June 2009, To be confirmed
Events around the country
Open Farm Sunday is a great opportunity to rediscover our glorious countryside and get in touch with the land. Farms around the country will be opening their 5-bar gates to the public to help you learn what it means to be a farmer and taste the produce they offer. Events will be unique to each farm, but expect tractor rides, farmers markets, picnics and nature trails and farm walks.
www.farmsunday.org
Taste of London
June 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Regents Park, London, NW1
Come to have a great day out at Taste of London in Regent’s Park, trying an array of signature dishes prepared by 40 of
www.channel4.com/taste
BBC Good Food Show Summer
June 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at The NEC, Birmingham
The BBC Good Food Festivals are always the ultimate shows for foodies. This year the Summer Kitchen cookery theatre boasts Gordon Ramsay and James Martin amongst the chefs demonstrating summer recipes, the hall itself will be full of stands offering every kind of food, drink and gadget and FoodLoversBritain.com will be there too with many of our favourite producers selling the best of British food and drink.
Entry from £17.00 - £22.00
Contact 0870 040 0372
BBC Good Food Show Summer
Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival
June 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham GL50 1SD
The Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival will showcase more than 130 producers of the region's best food and drink - look out for FoodLovers Approved The Cheeseworks amongst them. There's a fine wine theatre, a real ale theate and demonstrations from The Hairy Bikers and Raymond Blanc's Cookery School
Contact 01242 227 979
www.garden-events.com
Seer Green Cherry Pie Fair
June 2009, To be confirmed
Fair at Seer Green School, School Lane, Seer Green, Buckinghamshire HP9 2QJ
The Cherry Pie Fair is a long-standing tradition - and the only one of its kind - celebrating Buckinghamshire's wonderful traditional black cherries. The theme this year is 'Around the World in 80 Days' - look out for the fancy-dress ideas and the mini- and family-sized cherry pies, whose sales make money for the school.
Entry Free
Pembrokeshire Fish Week
June 2009. To be confirmed
Events throughout Pembrokeshire
Britain has some of the best fish and shelfish in the world and there can be few more enthusiastic places celebrating our good fortune than Pembrokeshire. Whether you're a foodie, beach-lover, angler or outdoors lover, there is something going on for you. From fresh crab lunches, fish & chip suppers, cookery demonstrations with Mitch Tonks of Fishworks, sea shanty nights in pubs, as well as coastal walks and learn-to-fish classes.
Entry Free
Contact 01437 776 168
www.pembrokeshirefishweek.co.uk
Arley Garden Festival
June 2009, To be confirmed
Gardening Festival at Arley Hall, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6NA
Now in its 14th year, the Arley Garden Festival is a true horticultural highlight in the gardener's calendar. There's a Floral Marquee of award-winning displays, specialist nurseries for plants both edible and decorative, a gardeners' road show and question time and tours of the gardens personally conducted by Lord Ashbrook himself.
Contact 01565 777 353
www.arleyhallandgardens.com
New House Lane Cherry Orchard Walk
July 2009, To be confirmed
New House Cherry Orchard, New House Lane, Sheldwich,
Take a walk through Church Lane Cherry Orchard, looking at the ecosystems of the traditional orchard with Dan Tuson, author of the newly-published Kent Downs book.
Contact pippa.palmar@kentdowns.org.uk
www.kentdowns.org.uk
Orchards’ Community Play
July, To be confirmed
For a real taste of outdoor theatre, locals will be performing ‘The Orchard Year 70 Years Ago’ amongst the cherry trees.
Contact pippa.palmar@kentdowns.org.uk
www.kentdowns.org.uk
78th Cherry & Soft Fruit Show
July 2009, To be confirmed
The County Agricultural Showground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent
The Cherry & Soft Fruit Show is held in conjunction with the Kent County Agricultural Show. Their competition for the best cherry exhibit is open to both traditional and modern, white and black varieties. Other areas to explore include 'Why Farming Matters' - farm to fork, as it were, a Countryside area and even 'Dancing Diggers'...
www.kentshowground.co.uk
Dorset Seafood Festival
July 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Brewers Quay, Hope Square, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8TR
Dorset's Seafood Festival has to be one of the fishy highlights in any foodie's calendar. There's cookery demonstrations from Mark Hix and Mitch Tonks, filleting demonstrations, wine-matching, a fresh fish auction and the Seafood Village with tastings of local Dorset fish and shellfish, including crab, lobster and oysters.
Contact 01305 785 747 info@weymoutholdharbour.co.uk
www.dorsetseafood.co.uk
Black Cherry Fair
July 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Abbey Field, Staines Lane, Chertsey, Surrey KT16
The Black Cherry Fair in Chertsey dates back to the 15th century and remains a much-loved local event. Local girls are pronounced Black Cherry Princesses in a procession to Abbey Field, where there will be music, a market and traditional entertainments. Next year, look out for cherry pies and food stalls.
Contact admin@blackcherryfair.com
www.blackcherryfair.com
Pontefract Liquorice Festival
July 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Pontefract Town Centre, Yorkshire WF8 1PG
Pontefract plays host to the Liquorice Festival - your chance to sample real Yorkshire liquorice. There are tastings, locally-produced liquorice products and plants to buy, food stalls and all kinds of activities and street entertainment - even a liquorice Dalek - to keep the kids entertained.
Entry Free
Contact 0845 601 8353 info@pontefractliquorice.co.uk
www.pontefractliquorice.co.uk
Church Lane Orchard Cherry Day
July 2009, To be confirmed
Church Lane Cherry Orchard, Church Lane, Stockbury, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7RD
Celebrate Cherry Day at Stockbury at their all-day Festival of Fruit.
Contact pippa.palmar@kentdowns.org.uk
www.kentdowns.org.uk
Leigh Food Fair & Classic Car Show
July 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Leigh, Sherborne, Dorset
The Third Food Fair and Classic Car Show in the village of Leigh offers foodie delights galore. You can taste and buy from FoodLovers Approved local producers, which will be on display at the Food Fair, including Bridfish, Dorset Blue Cheese and Soup Company, Fudges, Olives Et Al, Rural Foods, and The Somerset Cider Brandy Co. There will also be an array of classic cars on display.
The money raised from the Food Fair will go to the New Village Hall with a donation to St Andrew’s Church.
Entry Free
Contact Elizabeth Turnbull 01935 873846 julian.turnbull@virgin.net
FoodLovers Britain National Cherry Day
Saturday 18 July 2009
CherryAid, launched by FoodLovers Britain, thanks to the success of CherryAid 2008, will continue next year with events going on across the country celebrating the glorious English cherry on National Cherry Day.
Watch this space for more events happening during the cherry season in 2009 and contact us if you have an event you would like listed or any information you would like on CherryAid.
FoodLovers Britain CherryAid
New House Orchard Cherry Day
July 2009, To be confirmed
New House Cherry Orchard, New House Lane, Sheldwich, Faversham, Kent ME13 9QS
Celebrate Cherry Day at Sheldwich with their all-day Festival of Fruit.
Contact pippa.palmar@kentdowns.org.uk
www.kentdowns.org.uk
Cherry and Strawberry Delights
July 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ
Home of the National Fruit Collection, Brogdale are celebrating the British cherry in style. There will be cooking demonstrations, fruit tastings, talks, tours and walks through the orchards and – naturally – the opportunity to buy cherries of every kind.
Contact 01795 536 250
www.brogdale.org
Mortimer Country Food Fair
Saturday 19 July 2008
Food Fair at Manor Farm Barn, Brampton Bryan, Shropshire SY7 0DH
The Mortimer Country Food Fair is a new event to celebrate the best of Hereford and Shropshire's local, seasonal produce. As well as food talks, book readings, local food stalls and a BBQ, make sure you look out for the freshest British cherries to buy by the basket-full.
Entry Free
www.lowerbuckton.co.uk
Flavours of Faversham
July 2009, To be confirmed
Festival in Faversham, Kent
While you're - hopefully - celebrating National Cherry Day at Brogdale, do make sure you take a wander around nearby Faversham to celebrate their local food festival. There's a tour of Shepherd Neame Brewery, a Food Trail around the town and a local producers' market for picking up goodies.
Contact 01795 542 285 flavours@faversham.org
www.faversham.org
Park Farm Cherry Day
July 2009, To be confirmed
Park Farm Cherry Orchard, Lynsted, Sittingbourne, Kent
One of the rare delights of cherry season can be PYO – although they can be hard to find. However, Park Farm Cherry Orchard are inviting you to come and pick your own on their annual Cherry Day. If you’re feeling less energetic, the cherries can be bought ready-picked.
Contact info@lynsted-orchard.org.uk
www.lynsted-orchard.org.uk
Hampshire Food Festival
July 2009
Events across Hampshire
Hampshire is cramming 120 food events into the month of July to celebrate the best of local Hampshire food and drink. There are farm, brewery and vineyard tours, cookery demonstrations, workshops and masterclasses, farmers markets, farm trails and festival menus in restaurants across the county.
Entry Free, depending on the event
Contact hampshire.fare@hants.gov.uk
www.hampshirefare.co.uk
Nantwich International Cheese Show
July 2009, To be confirmed
Show at Dorfold Hall Park, Nantwich CW5 8LD
Having begun as a small cheese show over 100 years ago within the market town of Nantwich, the International Cheese Show has expanded so much - as the name suggests - it is now held in a vast marquee on the edge of town. Expect to find cheese from all four corners of the globe, with classes judging everything from Traditional Farmhouse to Stilton. Tuesday is press and trade day; Wednesday is open to the public.
Contact agl4nantwichshow@aol.com
www.nantwichshow.co.uk
The Big Cheese
July 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Crescent Road, Caerphilly CF83 1AB
Set in the shadows of one of Europe's largest medieval castles, The Big Cheese is an extravaganza of food halls, a countryside marquee, street entertainers, living history encampments, music, dance, traditional funfair, folk dancing, falconry, fire eating, minstrels, troubadours and much more.
Entry free
www.caerphilly.gov.uk/bigcheese
The Innocent Village Fete
August 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Regent's Park, London
The annual Innocent Village Fete gets into the swing of summer again - theres live music, welly-wanging, duck herding, ferret racing, funfair rides and of course a huge farmers market, where you can buy your goodies to feast on in the summer sunshine.
www.innocentvillagefete.com
Cherry Pie Sunday
August 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at The Plough Inn, Cadsdean Road, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire HP27 0NB
The Plough is the only pub in Buckinghamshire to still hold the traditional Cherry Pie Sunday celebrating the end of the cherry-picking season. It’s a real old-fashioned day out – tug of war, a coconut shy, apple dunkings, vintage tractors and steam engines – and, of course, free cherry pies for everyone who attends.
Contact Steve 01844 343 302
www.ploughatcadsden.com
Marine Day: A Festival of the Sea
August 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Port St Mary Quay, Isle of Man IM9 5EA
Celebrate the sea and all it offers at the Marine Day on the Isle of Man. There will be marine touch tanks, talks on sea life including sharks, whales and dolphins and sea birds, demonstrations on net mending and - for those who prefer their sealife edible - fish smoking, crab dressing and cookery demonstrations by The Hairy Bikers, a seafood barbecue, and a fish market.
www.queeniefestival.com
28th British Open Crabbing Championship
August 2009, To be confirmed
Competition at Walberswick, Suffolk
Over a 90 minute period, armed only with a single line and bait of your choice (it can be home-made), the person who lands the heaviest crab wins The British Open Crabbing Championship. You win an engraved silver salver, a gold medal and £50 in prize money, so the small entrance fee is worth it - if you win.
Open Crabbing Championships
World Flounder Tramping Championships
August 2009, To be confirmed
Competition at Glen Isle Peninsula, Palnackie, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
Competitors brave the mud flats of the Urr Water estuary to try to catch the heaviest flounder - or the smallest, or the largest - by walking across the mud, trapping the fish beneath their feet. They used to use leisters - three-pronged spears - but these are now disallowed, probably on healthy & safety grounds...
Entry Free
www.visitsouthernscotland.co.uk
Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show
August 2009, To be confirmed
Competition at St Hedda's Schoolroom, Egton Bridge, Yorkshire
The Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show is one of the very few remaining gooseberry shows left, and at over 200 years old, it's a stalwart of the fruit shows. Growers from all over the country compete to win the prize for the heaviest berry - measured in apothecary drams and grains - across all the glorious colour categories.
Entry Free
Contact 01947 810 332
The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
August 2009, To be confirmed
Festival at Main Sandown - Newport Road, The Fighting Cocks Crossroad, PO30 3AR
The Isle of Wight celebrates its position as the UK’s premier garlic growing region with its very own Isle of Wight Garlic Festival. The centre of attention is the Garlic Marquee, with the Isle of Wight’s Golden Clove, which can be found in abundance, including the popular oak-smoked variety. However, there are many other tempting garlic-flavoured products from mussels and other seafood, bread, beer, ice cream and sausages!
Contact info@garlic-festival.co.uk
www.garlic-festival.co.uk
Levens Hall Chilli Fest
August 2009
Festival at Levens Hall, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 0PD
Anything and everything chilli is on sale to buy or eat at the Chilli Fest at Levens Hall. Think traditional produce with a twist, including sauces, jams, chocolate, ice cream and beer. There will be cookery demonstrations, chilli plants to take home of every variety and salsa dancing to get you in the rhythm.
Entry Free
www.levenshall.co.uk
West Dean Chilli Fiesta
August 2009, TO be confirmed
Festival at West Dean, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0QZ
You can't get much hotter than the Chilli Fiesta at West Dean. Over 250 varieties of chillies will be on display to taste, including Wildfire, Titanic and even Carrot. There's cookery demonstrations, growing tips and products from chocolate to ice cream, including Ouse Valley's Red Chilli Jelly. And there's Latin salsa to keep the tempo high.
Entry £7.25
www.westdean.org.uk