Eat, drink and be merry! #Blog

Taste Cheshire
22nd August 2014

An East Cheshire town is preparing to unveil its tastiest weekend of the year.

Nantwich Food and Drink Festival promises to be even bigger and better with more attractions, late night opening and larger marquees housing delicacies from across the globe.

The event, billed as ‘the biggest and tastiest food festival in the country,’ will give the town’s economy a £2m boost with more than 30,000 visitors expected over the weekend September 5-7.

Each year it shines the spotlight on Nantwich’s vibrant food scene with traders across town throwing open their doors to stage fun workshops, tastings and family activities.

This year’s crowd-puller sees two of the area’s top name companies – Mornflake and Bentley – put their branding on huge gourmet food halls sited on the Bowling Green and Love Lane car-parks.

The town square will host a seated Food Theatre – headlined by cookery school celebrity Brian Mellor and with presentations by chefs from top Cheshire restaurants including Rookery Hall and Peckforton Castle.

Food and craft stalls will be dotted at open venues across town including Churchyardside, Pepper Street and the Cocoa Yard.

Fun activities include the launch of ‘Nantwich Potato Bowling Championship – think boules but with potatoes!’ That takes place at the White Horse pub on Pillory Street while the nearby Nantwich Museum offers children a chance to learn about bees and their importance in our food.

Hungry contestants will line up for Man V Food – a belly-busting highlight on the festival calendar. This year they take on a whopper Dabber sausage in a giant bap to raise money for St Luke’s Hospice.

A new venue is Dysart Buildings where legal eagles from Hall Smith Whittingham join with the Women’s Farming Union to host a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

Marks and Spencer in Nantwich is helping the festival spread further with food tastings, flower arranging and fun with wet sponges at its Beam Street store. Next door the library has games and competitions.

Visitors can find cocktail-making at Residence Bar, pizza-making at Firenze Restaurant and heavenly desserts at the Methodist Church.

Festival chairman Deborah Robb said: “We say it every year, but that’s because it’s true. This year’s festival is going to be the biggest and best yet.

“We’ve got more going on, the best range of exhibitors that we’ve ever had, amazing demonstrations and lots more besides. It’s going to be a spellbinding event.”

This year the festival stays open late on Friday when professional fire-breathers, stilt-walkers and jugglers will help create a party atmosphere.

Deborah, who heads the not-for-profit team who organise the festival, added: “People always comment on the feel-good factor. Yes, it’s about food, but also about showcasing our beautiful town and giving everyone, young and old, a weekend to remember.”

For more on activities visit www.nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk