Food & Drink

More people than ever visited the Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink in Northernhay Gardens and Exeter Castle from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 April to enjoy the region’s best food, drink, producers and chefs and celebrate the Festival’s 10th anniversary year. Close to 20,000 people attended the Festival with record numbers of visitors on Saturday and Sunday.

The highest ever number of visitors in the 10-year history of the region’s biggest foodie event ensured many of more than one hundred South West artisan food producers sold out of produce and the cookery theatre was...

Following a buzzing VIP launch party and the first of three After Dark sessions - complete with a cookery demonstration from Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines, guest appearance from Devon-based actress Caroline Quentin and an amazing set from Devon singer songwriter Adam Isaac - the sun shone down on the first full day of the 10th Anniversary Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink. The ale and cider were flowing in abundance, the food was bountiful and the people were welcoming. All in all there was a great buzz going on and for once the weather did not spoil the festivities,...

From its humble beginnings ten years ago, always with acclaimed chef Michael Caines MBE at its helm, the Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink has grown into one of the largest events of its kind in the UK, its rise corresponding to the huge surge in consumer demand for local produce. More visitors than ever flock to Exeter's Northernhay Gardens each year to visit artisan food and drink producers from throughout South West England.

In the popular Cookery Theatre, Michael organises and hosts the chef demonstrations, supported by the region's best and best known chefs. Be...

Despite ongoing fears of a triple dip recession, confidence in the restaurant sector remains healthy and, according to the Deloitte Consumer Tracker Report released at the end of last year, not only are consumers eating out more often, but spending more when they do (compared to the average spend during 2012) and our love affair with dining out is set to continue in 2013.

Indeed, Exeter has witnessed an influx of new restaurants, with a variety of eateries popping up all over the city – Ruby Diner on Queen Street, Loungers Cosy Club in Southernhay, the Salty Pigeon on Magdalen Road...