Leek Food and Drink Festival

Leek Food & Drink Festival will be held on the 15th and 16th March through the town centre of Leek and in the historic market place at the heart of the town.

Leek is in a unique location, being only a few miles away from ‘Three Shire Head’ where the three counties of Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire meet – and the festival will be bringing some of the finest food from each of these counties – local meats, cheese makers, brewers, chutney, jam & preserves, sauces, oils, pies, bakers and of course the infamous Staffordshire Oatcakes (below) – once you’ve tried them you’ll be taking a dozen home every time you visit, there is something strangely addictive to this local delicacy.

The weekend of the festival is the third of the month and this usually hosts Leek’s monthly fine food market in the market place. In addition to the 20 odd stalls who are regulars for the market there will be another 50 stalls plus hot food vendors and beer tent in the Roebuck and another 15 stalls in Leek’s new public space, Sparrow Park and further stalls through the streets of the town centre, linking the whole festival, the fabulous food shops of Leek, the pubs, restaurants, cafes and plethora of independent shops.

Although 2014 will be the first time Leek has hosted a food and drink festival, the foundations for the event are based in Leek’s fine food market. With a host of food makers, exhibitors, talks, demonstrations, films, hot food stalls and  beer tent there will be plenty to do throughout the town centre and in the grounds of Foxlowe Arts Centre (below).

 

Events during the food & drink festival will include:

• Titanic Brewery & Slightly Foxed Totally Locally beer swap in the beer tent
• Foods of the world local restaurants map with special offers, tastings and events
• Foodie talks
• Cookery demonstrations from top local and celebrity chefs
• Foodie films
• Community start up stalls – could you taste the next big thing?
• Sausage Trail - On the Saturday of the food & drink festival why not take part in the sausage trail? Starting in the grounds of Foxlowe Arts Centre it’s only £5* for your scoring card and map. Set of on the trail, winding its way through the town and stalls – including the local town butchers, stall holders and even the odd pub or two, sampling and scoring the varied sausages and when you’ve finished return to the Foxlowe Arts Centre for your festival sausage in a roll. The sausage trail is sponsored by award-winning  Leek company Cottage Delight who have commissioned a special festival sausage – what better way to finish than by tucking into the festival special sausage in a roll. At the end of the day the scores will be totted and the best sausage of the festival will be announced.

• Beer Festival -The beer festival tent will be in the Roebuck in Leek. Run by the local Titanic Brewery, the beer tent will have a great range of local and hand picked ales be open until 11pm on Saturday 15th, 4pm on Sunday 16th with live music from local bands on both days all adding to the atmosphere. It won’t all be about the beer tent though – Leek has a wealth of fantastic pubs and bars for you to explore and Leek’s Real Ale Trail guide will be the perfect accompaniment to your journey. Many of the pubs will be taking part in the festival with guest ales and specials for you to try – Leek’s even got a Belgian Bar in Leek (Den Engel) that’s listed in the Belgian Good Beer Guide – pretty impressive eh?

 

More information: www.leekfoodanddrink.co.uk