Celebrity chefs, local produce and dishes from around the globe will be just a few of the highlights at this year’s Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival.
More stalls than ever before will take part in the two-day festival, on Sunday, August 27, and Monday, August 28, with a variety of different cuisines available to try.
The free event, which has become an annual favourite in the town centre, gets underway on Sunday when the special guest is Jack Stein – the executive chef from Rick Stein’s restaurants.
On bank holiday Monday, television chef and author Paul Rankin will be in the Stoves Cookery Theatre outside Moyse’s Hall on the Cornhill.
The festival has grown every year since beginning in 2012 and is organised by the town centre Business Improvement District (BID) organisation – Our Bury St Edmunds.
Chief Executive Mark Cordell said: “This year we have over 120 stalls in total and will be featuring traders with locally produced food to those bringing flavours from all over the world.
“For the first time we have a Polish restaurant taking part, as well as Italian offerings from our local Carluccio’s and all kinds of curries including authentic Goan dishes. Plus plenty of stalls will cater for gluten-free, vegan and many other diets.
“Once again the BID member businesses are really getting behind the festival, a number of restaurants will be giving demonstrations in the cookery theatre and others are having a stall as part of the event or doing something special at their own premises over the weekend.
“It’s wonderful to see so many of our independent businesses such as Gourmet Goods and Beautiful Beers really embracing the festival.”
For younger visitors there will be a range of children’s activities in and around the town centre, including cake decorating workshops, face painting, the mini-farm in Abbeygate Street and the beach complete with deck chairs and Punch and Judy at Charter Square in the Arc, along with fairground rides and free street entertainment across both days.
On Monday at 10.30am, West Suffolk Councils’ Eat Out Eat Well awards will be presented by Jo Churchill MP to local food businesses at the Stoves Cookery Theatre.
Celebrity chefs’ cookery demonstrations are on stage both days at: 11.00am, 1.00pm, 3.00pm
Punch and Judy shows at the beach in the Arc each day at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 3.00pm
Full details about the event can be found by clicking here.
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