New Bank Holiday dates for Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink

Mary Youlden
Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - 4:28pm

Dates for Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink 2017 have been announced which sees the event move to the Early May Bank Holiday.

The award winning food and drink festival, which celebrates the very best produce of the south west will run from Saturday 29th April 2017 to Monday 1st May, running for all three days of the bank holiday.

An established favourite for all foodies, the festival attracts an international audience with visitors attending from far and wide to buy delicious goodies, watch top chefs in the live Festival Cookery Theatre and get involved in workshops and demonstrations.

Returning to the dramatic Exeter Castle Courtyard and pretty Northernhay Gardens in the very heart of the city of Exeter, the Festival will kick off on from 6pm on Friday 28th April with the first of three nights of live music and delectable hot food and local drinks.

From the Saturday, daytime events will kick off with demos from top chefs, workshops, children’s activities and more than 100 hundred artisanal producers from the region in the Food & Drink marquees in Northernhay Gardens selling a range of mouth-watering products from traditional cheeses, meats, preserves and ciders to modern twists on gins, charcuterie, ice-cream, oils, coffee and much more. Visitors to the Festival can enjoy the opportunity to meet the producers and ask them about the food and drink they sell.

The Festival was founded and continues to be championed by 2-Michelin star chef, Michael Caines MBE who leads a packed programme of live chef demonstrations in the Cookery Theatre. Each demonstration gives visitors the chance to see top regional chefs in action. With an emphasis on using the best and seasonal produce, visitors can find inspiration before exploring the Food & Drink marquees to stock up on ingredients for their own culinary creations.

Michael Caines says, “I am really proud of the Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink. Each year we promote fantastic regional food and drink and champion the people who grow, rear and make it. The Festival is a brilliant opportunity for everyone to come along and enjoy what the south west has to offer. With cookery demonstrations, great live music, delicious food and drink to go and the chance to learn more about cooking and farming. With the move to the early May bank holiday this year we hope to enable visitors to the region to attend and discover what makes the region so special when it comes to food and drink.”

Each year, the Festival hosts a number of interactive workshops and food-themed activities for children and adults alike. A dedicated children’s programme includes Fun Kitchen cookery classes, farm animals, storytelling and craft activities. The Festival aims to help children understand more about their food, instil a love of cooking and an awareness of where it comes from. The Darts Farm Taste and Knowledge Teepee’s will once again host a packed schedule of informative and fun workshops, demonstrations and talks on topical food and drink themes.

Exeter Castle Courtyard will be filled with hot food stalls and stands selling local beers, ales and wines. Enjoy a delicious lunch while local musicians take to the stage to entertain visitors.
Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink is a not for profit event. 

For more information or to buy tickets visit: www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk.

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