Steve Goodier goes gourmand to tell us about food festivals just a short drive from your Club Site pitch this year.
1. Oxford Food Festival (Foodies Festival)
Foodies Festival is the UK’s biggest food festival – and you can catch one leg of it at Oxford’s South Parks this year on 24, 25 and 26 August. There will be top chefs, MasterChef winners, and Great British Bake-Off winners in attendance. There’ll be kids’ cookery, healthy living advice and live music from the likes of Scouting for Girls.
Nearest Club Site: Oxford (2 miles away)
2. Clitheroe Food Festival
Clitheroe Food Festival takes place annually and this year it’s on 10 August. The festival takes over Clitheroe’s town centre with the main areas closed to traffic. The resulting street buffet is hugely impressive, with numerous exhibitors showcasing Lancashire’s fine array of cheeses, ice cream, meats, fruits and vegetables, alongside cooking demonstrations and live music.
Nearest Club Site: Clitheroe (1 mile away)
3. The Great British Food Festival
The Great British Food Festival visits various UK locations throughout the year. Catch it at Cheshire’s stunning Arley Hall on 21 and 22 September. The festival will have chef demonstrations, street food vendors, an interactive Bake Stage with Great British Bake-Off stars, campervan cookery, foraging walks, live music and plenty to keep the kids happy too.
Nearest Club Site: Delamere Forest (13 miles away)
4. Food Fest (Lullingstone Castle)
Taking place on 1 and 2 June this year, Food Fest at Lullingstone Castle showcases all that is good about the Kent food scene. For your money you get vintage food trucks, stalls, great food and produce from the farmers’ market, chefs’ interactive cooking features, live music, a steam funfair, arts and crafts and a festival disco dome.
Nearest Club Site: Oldbury Hill (10 miles away)
5. Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival
Cheltenham Food Festival takes place in the town’s Montpellier Gardens and is a colourful and popular festival that runs from 14-16 June this year. There are Cheese Theatre masterclasses, food and drink talks, live music and children’s entertainment plus The Chef’s Kitchen with talks from local chefs and restaurateurs.
Nearest Club Site: Winchcombe (13 miles away)
6. Real Food Rocks
Set in the glorious Lake District, Real Food Rocks takes place at Ambleside’s beautiful Brathay Hall on 20 July. On site you will find a host of vendors selling high quality local produce. There will be talks by chefs, cardiologists, restaurateurs, a movement coach and a doctor, plus live music.
Nearest Club Site: Braithwaite Fold (7 miles away)
7. Taste of Grampian
Aberdeenshire-based festival Taste of Grampian will be headlined this year by celebrity chef and TV host John Torode and will also be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Whether you’ve a taste for smoked salmon, shortbread, whisky or fudge, the 1 June festival promises to bring you close to some of the finest Scottish produce. It’s held at Inverurie’s Thainstone Centre.
Nearest Club Site: Tarland (27 miles away)
8. Food Rocks (Lyme Regis)
Started by chef Mark Hix to promote the produce of his home town of Lyme Regis and the surrounding area, this year’s Food Rocks festival takes place
on 7 and 8 September. Some of the finest food producers and suppliers from Dorset and the South West will be present along with top chefs. The
main stage has interactive cooking demonstrations and talks.
Nearest Club Site: Charmouth (4 miles away)
9.Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival has been running since 1983 and takes place on 17 and 18 August this year. It’s the island’s biggest summer show and at the heart of it is the garlic bulb – you’ll be able to eat it, buy it or even drink it! It’s a great family day out featuring top chefs and musicians.
Nearest Club Site: Adgestone (3 miles away)
10. Lampeter Food Festival lampeterfoodfestival.org.uk
Set in the beautiful Teifi Valley town of Lampeter, the small but enjoyable Lampeter Food Festival on 27 July will offer chef demonstrations plus plenty of local wares to sample and buy. The festival will be held in the grounds of the University of Wales.
Nearest Club Site: Cardigan, Rhandirmwyn (16-20 miles away)