Thousands expected at town’s popular food and drink festival
Action from last year's Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival Picture: ANDY ABBOTT - Credit: Archant
Thousands of people are expected to descend on Bury St Edmunds to enjoy celebrity demonstrations, local produce and dishes from around the world at the town’s popular food and drink festival.
Crowds flock to the Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival in 2017 Picture ANDY ABBOTT - Credit: Archant
The two-day free admission event, held over the August bank holiday weekend, has become a regular feature in the town’s foodie calendar, with a variety of more than 120 stalls.
Two celebrity chefs will be returning to the festival to provide demonstrations in the cookery theatre, which are particularly popular with visitors.
James Tanner, who is resident chef on ITV’s Lorraine, will don his whites again on Sunday, August 26, after starring at the 2016 festival.
While on bank holiday Monday, Paul Rankin – best known as one of the longest-standing and successful chefs on Ready Steady Cook – will turn up the heat in the Stoves Cookery Theatre following his appearance last year.
Paul Rankin, who will return to the Our Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival this year Picture: OUR BURY ST EDMUNDS - Credit: Archant
The festival, organised by Our Bury St Edmunds, which runs the Business Improvement District, saw around 40,000 visitors hit the town centre over the two days last year.
Mark Cordell, chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds, said: “The demonstrations in the cookery theatre are hugely popular and it is wonderful to have two of our favourite chefs from previous years returning.
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“As in previous years, we’ve also got stage slots from the many talented chefs working in Our Bury St Edmunds member businesses and with the restaurant scene here so vibrant at the moment it will be a real opportunity to find out more about some of the best dishes to be had in the town.”
Although food and drink is the focus of the event, the festival also offers a host of other activities.
Visitors sample some of the tasty treats at last year's Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival Picture: ANDY ABBOTT - Credit: Archant
The popular urban beach, a highlight of the festival, will be in the Arc shopping centre and on Abbeygate Street there will be a mini-farm with animals.
As well as the food and drink stalls, there will also be a farmers’ market on Angel Hill, and The Traverse will be turned into a picnic area.
The cooking demonstrations will take place outside Moyses Hall at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on both days.
The Our Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival runs from Sunday, August 26, to Monday, August 27, throughout the town centre, opening at 10am each day.
