This summer, sip, slurp, crunch and munch your way around a feast of food and drink festivals in Britain.
British food and drink festivals celebrate quality local and regional produce in stunning locations this year the length and breadth of the British Isles. Visitors can discover a wide range of British regional food and drink, including artisan bakes, craft brews, international cuisine and handmade sweets as well as meeting local chefs and TV personalities. Some are free to enter while others require an admission payment.
Organizer Ken Maitland planned two weeks where restaurants and wineries offered special events and promotions to delight in the wine and food available. Wine professionals conducted tutored tastings, comparisons between wines of the world and food and wine workshops as a celebration of the pleasures of the table.
Maitland, “The part of South East England around where William of Normandy invaded and defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings is known as 1066 Country—commemorating probably the most famous date in history, with its 950th anniversary this year. The 1066 Wine and Food Festival was launched in the ruins of Battle Abbey, built on the site of the battle.”
Now in its fourth year, Fantastic British Food Festivals create quality food and drink festivals at beautiful locations in the South East. They work with stunning venues, exciting food producers and talented chefs to produce outstanding food and drink events.
Fantastic British Food Festivals will celebrate quality local and regional produce in nine stunning locations, including Blenheim Palace, Bodiam Castle and Polesden Lacey. They entertained 60,000 visitors in 2015.
They are experts at creating vibrant events that showcase independent food and drink producers. The 2016 program will see more demonstrations, more producers, more tastings as well as the launch of an exciting new cookery program for children.
FANTASTIC BRITISH FOOD FESTIVALS
TO THE FOOD FESTIVAL RACES IN WINDSOR
Brennan considers that Great Britain “has such an amazing and diverse food and drinks industry” that it must be brought together in one place and one show.
Royal Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Rd. Windsor, West Berkshire. Admission: £4–£30
FOODIE DAY OUT
On the same weekend, the National Trust property Shugbrough Estate in Staffordshire is holding its own Great British Food Festival ( July 9,10), which they promise will be a “great foodie day out for the whole family.”
It’s set in the grounds of the historic Shugbrough Estate, and admission includes free entry to the Formal Gardens, Walled Garden, Island Arboretum, The Wilderness, Tea Room and Shops.
Festival visitors can also enjoy greatly reduced entry to the Mansion House, Servants Quarters, County Museum, Georgian Working Farm and Mill at only £5.00 for adults and £4.00 for children.
Admission: £3.50–£20, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com
AULD REEKIE ON A PLATE
Admission: From £8–£38 www.foodfestivalfinder.co.uk/events/foodies-festival-edinburgh
Banking on a great time
The Wimbledon Park Food Festival (August 27–29), now in its third year, combines three of the great elements of British life: proximity to the All England Lawn Tennis Club, a public holiday and delicious produce and entertainment.
August Bank Holiday, a traditional public holiday, will draw out the crowds and guarantee great fun. Some 40 stallholders, ranging from gourmet burgers to delicious ice creams and artisan beers, will offer cookery demonstrations and talks. Located next to the famous All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon Park is listed in English Heritage’s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
Wimbledon Park, London Admission: Adults £8, Children £4
BONNY, BONNY BANKS OF LOCH LOMOND
Where better than the Loch Lomond food and drink festival to enjoy a haggis-eating competition? Eight visitors are chosen daily to take part in the McIntosh Haggis Eating Competition. The challenge is to eat one pound of haggis under the eyes of a special haggis compere, making sure that there is no cheating!
Entrants must be over 18 years old, with no food allergies and willing to take part at their own risk.
Ben Lomond Way, Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch
No admission fee www.lochlomondfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk
WELSH FARE AND FUN IN ABERGAVENNY
The Abergavenny Food Festival /Gwyl Fwyd Y Fenni (September 18,19) has been serving up the finest Welsh food and drink since the last century. More than 200 drink and food producers from within the principality have welcomed some 30,000 visitors each year to this Welsh market town.
Abergavenny Town Centre, Abergavenny, Wales
www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com
CHESHIRE CHEESE AND MORE
Arley Hall, Cheshire 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Arley Road, Arley, Northwich Admission: £3.50–£40
www.cheshirefoodfestival.com
BARBECUE AND CIDER IN SURREY
Great Bookham, near Dorking, Surrey.
Gardens only: Adult £8.50, Children £4.30 Free entry to National Trust members
SUMMER'S LEAS IN AN RHS GARDEN
The summer concludes with the R.H.S. garden Hyde Hall Food Festival (October 7–9). For three days this Essex garden, near Chelmsford (donated to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993), hosts food stalls, regional produce, chef demonstrations and food tastings.
The idyllic garden setting will see family attractions such as garden games, face painting and vintage rides set among lush lawns, ponds and roses.
Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex Adults £10, Children £5, Free entry to RHS members
BRITANNIA FIZZES WITH SPARKLING GLORY
Just a generation ago, the very thought of English wine would have been laughable. Now, some British fizzes are among the best in the world. A gathering excitement is palpable anytime a bottle of English wine is presented.
This has come about through a combination of climate change, giving growers better and warmer wine-growing conditions, a growing pool of talented winemakers in Britain to make wine and a raft of new owners with very deep pockets able and willing to put the pounds into the winemaking.
YURI ARCURS/ISTOCK