Food Festivals in April 2016
With Spring well and truly in force, April marks the start of the food festival season, as the weather will only be getting better and better. With food festivals across the country, varying from indoor drink-centred events, to food fairs occupying whole fields, there is surely an event for every foodie this April.
Where: Oval Space, London
The London Whisky Weekender returns for their third year, inviting guests to the 'Oval Space' in old industrial East London. Ticket holders will receive drams of whisky from multiple stands as they choose, which includes big brands such as Diageo and Jameson to niche brewers such as That Boutique-Y Whisky Company.
Tokens for 'under the counter drams' will also allow guests to sample more expensive or rarer whiskies from the exhibitors too.
Great British Food Festival - Lancashire
When: 8th - 10th April
Where: Stonyhurst College, Lancashire
The Great British Food Festival comes to Lancashire at Stonyhurst College. 'Over 100 traders, top chef demos, live music, kids entertainment, real ale, amazing street food, cake, man v food competitions and lots more, all in stunning surroundings!'
New for 2016, Tony Smith, finalist on ITV's 'BBQ Champ', will be giving BBQ demos all day long. Other guests include Maurizio Bocchi and The Great British Bake Off's Luis Troyano.
Kids visit free on the Friday and access to the grounds and gardens are included in the ticket.
Where: HIC Harrogate, North Yorkshire
When: 8th - 10th April
Harrogate will host the first of this season's Good Food Shows, boasting attractions including a 'supertheatre' and interview stage for celebrity chefs/guests, book signings, a producers' market and a bistro buffet.
'Steal ideas and taste delicious food from the best culinary talent the UK has to offer this year in Harrogate at the upcoming BBC Good Food Show Spring!'
Celebrity guests include The Great British Bake Off's Paul Hollywood, Tom Kerridge, Michel Roux Jr., The Hairy Bikers and more.
North Leeds Charity Beer Festival
Where: North Leeds Cricket Club, Leeds
When: 8th - 10th April
The 5th Annual North Leads Charity Beer Festival will be held the North Leeds Cricket club, hosted by the Roundhay Rotary Club. This year features a Welsh theme, with 18 Welsh cask ales going head-to-head with 18 from Leeds.
Live music will be played throughout the festival and all money raised will go towards Rotary charities.
Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink
Where: Exeter Castle, Dorset
The Exeter food festival returns for its 13th Year and will be staying open later than ever before, with Northernhay Gardens open until 19:30 to day-ticket holders on the Friday and Saturday. Visitors will be able to enjoy the stands - and the food - until the sun goes down.
'Everything from traditional ciders, handmade marmalades, patés, artisan breads and organic meats to locally roasted gourmet coffees, cheeses, flapjacks, jerky and vegetables will be available. The courtyard of Exeter Castle will be turned into an enticing south west street food market.' Guests will include Great British Bake Off contestant Glenn Cosby, Susy Atkins, Paul Young, and Michael Caines.
There will also be an Arts & Crafts Boutique in Northernhay gardens, with a focus on kitchen and giftware.
When: 23rd April
Where: Old Deer Park, Richmond-Upon-Thames
'Local businesses will be showcasing an exquisite range of different food & drink, traders will be demonstrating and selling their products in the Marketplace and there's even a Kids Zone to keep your little ones entertained while you indulge. Local charities will benefit from the proceeds.'
The festival is set to feature an eclectic mix of stands, with local produce as well as food from across the world. A marketplace, kids zone, live music and licensed bars will also feature.
Liverpool Food, Drink & Lifestyle Spring Festival
Where: Sefton Park, Liverpool
Plenty of quirky vehicles and stands will fill Sefton Park for the Liverpool Food & Drink Spring Festival. A street food village will provide fast food from across the UK, while on 'the meadow' live musicians and DJ will provide a backdrop to a village of independent food and drink producers. A healthy living 'grove' will feature health foods, free-from foods and detoxes.
The festival also includes an activity forest, providing bush activities such as rope skills, den making, basket weaving and farm animals. Finally, on 'the pasture' will be an interior design market and pop-up flower market.
When: 23rd - 24th April
Where: Sandon Hall, Staffordshire
Set in the beautiful grounds of Sandon Hall, the Sandon Spring Fair promises the perfect way to usher in the sun (hopefully!).
Boasting a food market with stands from local producers to fine artisans, a licensed bar providing cask ales to champagne and a craft fair for all your gift needs, you are sure to have a pampered afternoon at Sandon..
Other attractions include demonstrations and talks, tours of the Sandon house, live music and the grounds themselves. Family activities such as face painting will also be on offer.
Where: Whittingham Club, Preston
With 70 different local ales, this is surely a stop for any beer lover. The festival will also feature 10 different local gourmet sausages, from Goosnargh Duck to Black Pudding. Live music will be played both in the afternoon and evening, with five bands set to perform.
All profits go to charity - so with every pint you're doing a good thing!
Visitors will also receive a commemorative pint glass, which grants access to the festival on subsequent days.
When: 30th April
Where: Tideswell, Derbyshire
Offering artisan food and drink, as well as entertainment, the Derbyshire village of Tideswell hosts a food festival sure to delight on the last Saturday of April. Now in its seventh year, the festival attracted 6,000 visitors last year and hopes for even more this year.
The whole village will be hosting the festivals, with many of the local shops and pubs taking part.
Great British Food Festival - Derbyshire
When: 30th April - 2nd May
Where: Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
The Great British Food Festival comes toDerbyshire, bringing with it over 100 traders and stalls, numerous demonstrators, and attractions. Hardwick Hall and its grounds will provide a beautiful backdrop to the festival.
Children will be sure to be entertained by kids' cookery classes and guests are invited to take part in the 'cake off' competition.
Guest Chefs named so far include Sandy Doherty, Howard Middleton and Tony Smith.
Where: Cattle Market, Melton Mowbray
With over 60 cheese makers booked so far, the Artisan Cheese Fair should prove to be one of the events of the year for cheese fans. Returning for its sixth year, the fair is the largest cheese event in the country, featuring cheese from across the country.
'You can enjoy a programme of talks, tastings and demonstrations from industry experts. Besides cheese, there will be wine, cakes, beer, chutneys, Melton Mowbray’s famous Pork Pie'.
When: 30th April - 1st May
The Bakewell Food Festival returns for the fifth year, hoping to celebrate the produce of the Peak District. As well as an award winning farmers' market, the whole town will be hosting the festival, with many local shops joining in.
The festival will include over 60 stalls and also promises 'discounts and tastings in a number of our local independent retail outlets, a variety of road shows, cookery demonstrations, children’s rides, ponies and donkeys'.
When: 30th April - 1st May
Where: Shiplake College, Henley on Thames
Henley on Food promises to acquaint thousands of food lovers with successful chefs and culinary writers, with Q&As, demonstrations, panel discussions, wine tastings, interactive cookery sessions.
Guests and speakers are too many to list in full, but include: Anthony Worrall-Thompson, John Torode, Madeleine Shaw, Jose Pizarro.
Childrens' cookery classes are also being provided by Smart Raspberry Cookery School.
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