By Julia Watts
We can almost feel the summer months coming to an end. But surely there’s no better way to get rid of post-holiday blues than celebrating food and drink with hundreds of fellow foodies! Here’s our guide of a few of those festivals taking place across the UK throughout September. Why not kick-start your Autumn with something to remember?
Happening early in the month is…
Where:
Nantwich, Cheshire
When:
Friday 5th – Sunday 7th September
The picturesque town of Nantwich will kick off this year’s festival with a party. On Friday night, visitors can revel in the fun and exciting atmosphere as town centre shops stay open late, while entertainers such as fire eaters and jugglers will roam the streets for your enjoyment.
The free live music will entertain all weekend, as will the two buzzing marquee food halls, which will house over 150 exhibitors (showcasing cakes, chocolates, beers, cheeses, preserves, pickles and much more), as well as numerous street food stalls offering international flavours, including Caribbean and Dixie cuisines. Those looking for something rather sophisticated will find it at the oyster and fizz bar.
The chef demonstration marquee will present a plethora of Cheshire talents, as well as culinary workshops for both adults and children, hosted by expert Brian Mellor from Harthill Cookery School.
Over 50 events, presented by local restaurants, pubs and businesses, will take place over the weekend, so there will be plenty to do and certainly something for every visitor. Friendly, local volunteer guides will be situated around Nantwich so that if visitors want to explore the charming town they can do so with a helping hand. The good news continues – entry to Nantwich Food and Drink Festival is completely free.
Taking place over the same weekend is…
Where:
Royal Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa
When:
Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th September
Voted one of the Top 10 Autumn Food Festivals by
the Telegraph in 2013, this free-entry festival has plenty to offer, including over 150 food stalls boasting delicious local produce of all kinds – meats, wines, chocolates, cakes, pickles and kitchen equipment to name a few.
A huge attraction, the Love Food Road Show Live Cookery Theatre will be the festival’s home for talented chefs’ demonstrations. The theatre will also host the ‘Home Cook of the Year’ Competition with award-winning local butcher Aubrey Allen. The live cook-off final will take place on the Sunday, when four carefully selected finalists will cook their Cornish lamb main courses for guest judges: celebrity chef Brian Turner and Andreas Antona, Chef-patron at Birmingham’s Michelin-starred Simpsons.
The Star & Garter Barbecue Masterclass Area will return this year, boasting a wide variety of entertainment in the form of Masterclasses and demonstrations from local chefs. The Barbecue Masterclass Area will feature the Star & Garter, a recently renovated old town centre pub from the heart of Leamington Spa.
The popular Taste Trail will also return – a wonderful opportunity to visit a selection of local restaurants and sample a diverse range of specialty dishes (Taste Trail tickets will be sold from the information tent throughout the festival). For families, the Children’s Make and Bake Cookery School will provide cooking sessions that encourage experimentation and learning (places are limited, so sessions must be booked on the day). All of this will be set to the soundtrack of local live music, performing on the picturesque gardens’ bandstand.
Next, we’re heading west across the border…
Where:
Ludlow Castle, Wales
When:
Friday 12th – Sunday 14th September
Taking place at the magnificent Ludlow Castle, this 20th Ludlow Food Festival expects to see over 20,000 visitors. Its 1995 conception was the result of a conversation around a pub table about the quality influence of Ludlow’s independent restaurants and producers, and that thought has stayed at the festival’s heart since. Boasting over 180 artisan producers, as well as a host of top local chefs, this festival is a true celebration of the region’s best. Two main stages will see a varied range of free cookery demonstrations, including exhibitions from
Masterchef victor Tim Anderson,
the Great British Menu’s Jason Hodnett, and cook and food writer Anna Jones, who has worked with Jamie Oliver. As well as free demonstrations, there are plenty of master classes and Taste Workshops on offer, starting from £5 a session.
The famous Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year Exhibition will take place in the assembly rooms, showcasing the work of talented entrants from around the world. Visitors can also enjoy the also famous and fun sausage, ale and bread trails around Ludlow, as well as the pudding tasting, and the producers market on Sunday.
The festival will see the launch of three brand new books: from celebrity chef Marcus Bean; entrepreneur Sam Gray; and founder of former Michelin star restaurant Hibiscus, Claire Bosi, who will be introducing her illustrated cookery book for children. There is plenty more for children besides this – a special kids’ area will offer cookery lessons, storytelling and a quiz that will have them exploring the entire festival.
Next up is something for your competitive streak…
Where:
Ragley Hall, Warwickshire
When:
Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th September
And
Where:
Aley Hall, Cheshire
When:
Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st September
Taking place twice this September at two different venues on two different dates, the Great British Food Festival is perfect for those who are up for a challenge. The ‘Men Vs Food’ challenges offer men and women the chance to do battle with half pound burgers, yards of chilli sausage, super-hot ‘suicide sauce’, pints of cider and much more in Men Vs Meat, Men Vs Heat and Men Vs Wheat. If you think you have it in you to be a champion, simply enter on the day for a chance to win a Man Vs Food t-shirt.
If baking is more your talent, why not enter the Cake Off? Open to all amateurs, visitors who bring a homemade cake for the competition will gain free entry to the festival. Cakes will be judged by experts and the public, before an all-round winner is chosen and awarded a prize.
There’s also plenty to do if you’re not the competitive type. With over 80 local producers showcasing their products and celebrity and local chef
