Beverley Food Fe!stival returns for 12th TASTE-TASTIC year

When Beverley Town Council organised the first Food Festival in 2006, little did they know it would go on to be an annual success enjoyed by thousands of residents and visitors alike.

The original idea was to bring a few producers from Beverley’s rural hinterland into the town centre to help celebrate local food, so on a crisp Sunday morning in 2006, thirty-five producers set up their stalls along with a small Food Theatre, in what proved to be a big success for the Town Council - one that has grown stronger year on year. This was the first Food Festival in the East Riding and has led the way for several to follow.

Now, twelve years later this has become an award winning event, winning the 2017 North of England ‘Rural Oscar for Tourism’ and commendation at national level, and ‘Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Award for Best Large Event’ in 2016.   This year approximately 140 stalls will be attending the event, alongside the well-loved Local Food Theatre Marquee.  It is anticipated that thousands of people will attend, making it one of the busiest days in Beverley calendar, bringing a welcome economic boost not just to the food producers, but also to retailers and the local hospitality trade.

Starting at 9:30am on Sunday 1st October, with an official opening by The Mayor of Beverley Councillor Ann Willis at 10.00am, the festival runs until 4.30pm, with a wide range of different foods from around the region available to purchase and enjoy.

Shoppers can find everything from locally reared meat and traditional preserves, to tasty tangy cheese and real Yorkshire ale. One of the favourite festival sights is hundreds of people walking around the streets of Beverley, with sticks of freshly bought local sprouts over their shoulders!

Additional these traditional stalls will be some carefully selected hot food venders, giving people the chance to taste some terrific street food not usually available in our Yorkshire market town.

Once again, the Food Theatre Marquee will be open to the public, with a host of local chefs ready to whip some ingredients from stall holders into delicious and exciting dishes.  As usual, a highlight will be the annual “Ready, Steady, Cook” style competition at 12:00pm between presenters from BBC Radio Humberside Phil White and Jonathan Parker. This will be followed by the hotly contested HEYHA Copper Saucepan Apprentice Chef competition, with two aspiring young chefs.

Familiar festival face Professor Fiddlesticks will be out and about to entertain families, whilst through the town centre musicians from The Processed Pea will entertain shoppers.  Beverley Brass Band will help launch the day and Beverley Garland Dancers will put in an appearance.  There will be live broadcasts from our town’s very own Beverley FM.  The beauty of the entertainment is that it’s all fabulous and local like the food!

Beverley Food Festival is part of British Food Fortnight, Chef Raymond Blanc said  “This is a great event and it has obviously grown in popularity and its offering over the years.  What a good example for others to follow.  This is the perfect way to involve local suppliers and farmers to get in front of their community and I would be keen to know how many of them got on having been involved.  A fantastic event that I am sure will continue to grow and grow.”

Beverley Town Council hopes residents will have an appetite to once again join the festivities on Sunday 1st October 2017, where there will be something available to suit all tastes.

A family day of food festivities and fun!