Food and festivals: UK dates for foodie folk

Meet the chefs, taste the food, sip the wine... Or round-up of food and drink festivals up and down the UK for the next 12 months

November 2009

1 November

Slow Food Market at the Southbank Centre, London.

A celebration of food that is good, clean and fair. Lots of Halloween fun and guest chefs. Entry is free.

 

1 November

BBC Good Food Show Scotland, Glasgow

A fun day of demonstrations, fine wine, sumptuous food and a good smattering of celebrity chefs.

 

2-8 November

British Sausage Week.

Hunker down with a plate of proper British bangers - tastings and demonstrations countrywide.

 

4-8 November

Spirit of Christmas Fair, Olympia, London

Sample lots of delicacies in the Food Hall, including luxury Christmas cakes. Book on: 0871 230 1089.

 

5-7 November

Wakefield Beer Festival, Wakefield

Wakefield celebrates its 19th festival of fine ales. Traditional cider makers and country wines will also make an appearance. Admission: £4 inclusive of souvenir tankard.

 

13-15 November

MasterChef Live, Olympia, London

A fantastic day out of food tasting, master classes and a MasterChef cook-off hosted by John Torode and Gregg Wallace. Tickets from £18. Call: 0844 579 3183.

 

15 November

Clovelly Herring Festival, North Devon

Herrings, kippers, bloaters, local cider, wine and entertainment including traditional shanty singers and all set in Devon's best-kept village.

 

25-29 November

BBC Good Food Show, Birmingham, NEC

All the ingredients you need for a fabulous event - talks, demos and fine food. Admission from £19.

 

26-29 November

St Nicholas Fayre, York

Mulled wine, costumed traders and the best local produce - this is one of the most popular Christmas markets in the UK. Entry is free. 

 

 

December 2009

4-6 December
Padstow Christmas Festival 
This includes a fabulous Cornish Festive Food & Drink Market, a covered ice rink and live cookery demonstrations.

 

11-12 December

Christmas Chocolate Festival, Southbank, London

Chocoholic heaven comes to the Festival Hall with tastings, demos and lots of Christmas gift ideas. Admission Free. Call: 0871 663 2500.

 

19-22 December

Christmas Slow Food Market, Southbank, London

Lots of stalls plus a demo tent offering tips on Christmas menus, a master butchery class and ideas on how to cook for a crowd. Admission free.

 

 

January 2010

8-10 January

The France Show, Earls Court, London

Novelli Food Theatre with cookery demonstrations from Novelli and his chefs, plus wine and champagne seminars.

25 January

Burns Night

Look out for Burns Night food and drinks events nationwide - there will be oh-so-many!

 

 

February 2010

15 February

The World's Original Marmalade Day, Cumbria

A marmalade competition, workshops and tastings at Dalemain House and Gardens, Dalemain, Penrith.

20-28 February

Rye Bay Scallop Festival, Rye, East Sussex

A celebration of scallops - with lots of tastings and demonstrations

 

26-17 February

Wakefield Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb, Yorkshire

Local Yorkshire produce, Yorkshire chefs demonstrations and the ‘Rhubarb ball'. Admission Free.

 

 

March 2010

22 March - 5 April (provisional dates)

Chester Food and Drink Festival, Chester Racecourse, Chester

The 2010 festival promises to be the biggest yet - the organisers anticipate a crowd of 20,000. Tickets from £3, free for children.

 

 

April 2010

9-11 April

Exeter Festival of South West England Food and Drink, Exeter Castle, Devon

Calling all foodies - get your teeth into the region's finest food. The festival includes a vast array of food producers and healthy eating activities. Day tickets £5, free for children. Call 01392 211080.

 

23 April - 21 June

The British Asparagus Festival, Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire

Two-months of asparagus mania including asparagus tours, auctions and The Great Asparagus Run.

29 April - 3 May

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, Speyside, Scotland

Calling all whisky lovers - a wealth of activities mostly centred around Speyside's many distilleries.

 

 

May 2010

1-2 May

The Tewkesbury Food and Drink Festival, Vineyards Playing Fields, Tewkesbury.

A festival offering a host of culinary highlights and family activities. Call:01684 855040

 

7-10 May

The Real Food Festival, Earls Court, London
The event will have the principles of slow food at its core and showcase carefully selected food and drink that is good, clean and fairly sourced. Ticket hotline: 0844 412 4642

 

8-9 May

Ludlow Spring Festival, Ludlow Castle, Shropshire

The Society of Independent Brewers brings 100 real ales on draught to be washed down with seriously good local sausages and bread.

22-23 May

Henley Food Festival, Henley, Phyllis Court Club, Henley on Thames

Le Cordon Bleu Henley Food Festival is a two day event celebrating the best of English food; from supplier, to producer, to chef. Adults £6, concessions also available.

22-23 May

The 2010 Derbyshire Food and Drink Festival, Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire

Some 100 stalls will showcase goods ranging from meats, pickles, wines, cakes, chocolates, organic produce, cookery ware and more.

 

28-31 May

Taste or Edinburgh, Edinburgh

The ultimate weekend for Scotland's discerning foodies - celebrating the best that the city's restaurants have to offer.

29-31 May

Foodies Festival, Hampton Court Palace

See Michelin star chefs cooking live, enrol your kids in a Kids' cooking masterclass, sample fine food and sip champagne in the Veuve Cliquot tent. Adults £15, concessions available. Call: 0871 230 7144

 

 

June 2010

10-13 June

Taste of Dublin, Iveagh Gardens, Dublin

A celebration of fine food and drink, with celebrated chefs serving sample-size signature dishes to over 30,000 foodies each summer.

10-14 June

BBC Good Food Summer Show, The NEC, Birmingham

The ultimate summer food experience, including celebrity chefs the Hairy Bikers, James Martin and the best seasonal food.

 

17-20 June

Taste of London, Regents Park, London

Sample the best that London's restaurants have to offer, plus gourmet shopping.

 

18-20 June

Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival, Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham

Features a line-up of the most tantalising food and drink producers in the county. Tickets from £4 from  or call:0844 576 2210.

 

18-21 June

Flavour of Shetland, Lerwick

Outdoor festival showcasing the best food, drink, music and culture of the Shetlands.

 

26 June - 4 July

Pembrokeshire Fish Week, Pembrokeshire

Events include gourmet seafood evenings, fresh mackerel BBQs and the chance to cook your own catch.

 

 

July 2010

 1 - 5 July

The Isle of Man Queenie Festival, Isle of Man

Annual event to celebrate the Island's Queen scallops, or Queenies.

 

1-31 July

Hampshire Food Festival, Hampshire

This is the tenth anniversary of the event which includes celebrity food writer events, talks, workshops and picnics.

9-11 July

The Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery, St Catherine's College, Oxford.

The theme of the 2010 symposium is ‘Smoked, Cured and Fermented Foods'. The event brings together writers, historians, sociologists, anthropologists, scientists and chefs.

10-11 July

Dorset Seafood Festival, Weymouth, Dorset

Many demonstrations involving crab, lobster, scallops, mussels, oysters, mackerel, cod, gurnard and many other Dorset caught species.

 

15-18 July

Taste of Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham

Try signature dishes from the region's top chefs, wine from its most discerning vintners and buy something yummy from the many exhibitors.

 

18-26 July (provisional date)

Annual Whitstable Oyster Fair, Whitstable

This is a vibrant celebration of Whitstable's history, heritage and traditions. Highlights include the ‘landing of the oyster ceremony' and oyster parade.

July (date tbc)

Nantwich International Cheese Show, Nantwich

The date has yet to be confirmed but the show has been running for more than 100 years and is the biggest cheese show in the world. Watch this space:

 

July (dates tbc)

Pontefract Liquorice Festival, Pontefract Town Centre, Yorkshire

This is the liquorice capital of England - lots of liquorice sampling is guaranteed plus arts and heritage festivities for all the family.

 

 

August 2010

1-31 August

The Pershore Plum Festival, Pershore, Worcestershire

This plum-obsessed festival takes place throughout the entire month, culminating with a grand finale on August Bank Holiday.

 

3 August

The Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show, Yorkshire

Established in 1800 - growers compete for the honour of growing the heaviest gooseberry. Open to the public from 2pm.

3-7 August

The Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London

Britain's biggest beer festival with over 500 beers, ciders, perries and international beers.

13-15 August

Foodies at the Festival, Edinburgh

Getting in on the act, this is a chance for food lovers to combine fringe and festival fun with top notch grub. Call: 0871 230 5573 for tickets

14-15 August

The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, Isle of Wight

The island's garlic is at the heart of this event - flavouring everything from prawns to coffee and ice cream. Contact: info@garlic-festival.co.uk. Tel: 05602 786785

 

14-15 August

The Lakes Chilli Fest, Levens hall, The Lake District

This is one hot event - with more stalls than ever featuring chilli-related items ranging from breads to chocolate.

 

 

September 2010

Date tbc

Brick Lane Curry Festival, Brick Lane, London

Festive food and entertainment in one of London's curry hotspots

 

5-7 September

Speciality & Fine Food Fair, London, Olympia

This is the tenth anniversary of this annual festival event enabling independent retailers, hoteliers and wholesales to meet the UK's finest food and drink suppliers. Entrance is £20, open to trade only. Call: 020 7385 1200 for details.

 

11-12 September

Tavistock Autumn Food Festival, Morwellham Quay, Devon

Festival championing the finest food and drink produce of the region.

For details: Tel 01822 613016 or email jstackhous@aol.com

17-26 September

York Food and Drink Festival

This does what it says in the title - it's a celebration of culinary Yorkshire set in and around the city's fine historic venues. Tickets and Information: 01904 466687

25-26 September

Mold Food and Drink Festival, Mold, North Wales

Family fun and a chance to bite into some tasty Welsh delicacies.

 

October 2010

Date tbc

The Mendip Food and Drink Festival, Mendip District

The next Mendip Food and Drink Festival promises more events and participants than ever before.

Date tbc

Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan

A weekend of food and fun in the bustling market town of Cowbridge

Tel: 07875 290428

 

1-31 October

Celebration of Food, South-West

The UK's largest food festival - from St Ives to Bristol there will be hundreds of fantastic foodie events, money-saving menu offers, and celebrity chef masterclasses.

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