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Don't miss the Royal Leamington Spa Food and Drink Festival
Thousands of taste buds will be tingling with anticipation for the hugely popular Royal Leamington Spa Food and Drink Festival being dished up on the first weekend of September.
With over 25,000 foodies flocking to the Royal Pump Room Gardens in the town centre from across the UK for the two-day annual extravaganza, it is the biggest event in the town’s calendar and regarded as one of the best autumn food festivals in the country.
More than 150 producers and retailers will be showcasing the best in local and regional food and drink alongside an impressive line-up of chefs demonstrating their culinary skills. And in true festival style, the atmosphere will be topped off with live music from local acts.
BID Leamington, which organises the festival with the support of local businesses, is hoping to top last year’s record crowd with an action-packed programme featuring new attractions and regular favourites like the Live Cookery Theatre, BBQ Masterclass, Make & Bake Kids Cookery School and Taste Trail.
Stephanie Kerr, executive director of BID Leamington, said: “People travel from far and wide to the festival and its reputation grows every year. The diverse range of local food and drink is a big attraction along with a packed programme of cooking demonstrations, tastings and live entertainment. Plus it’s totally free to attend.
“Exhibitors were blown away by the great crowds and atmosphere last year. All of the pitches and stalls for this year’s event were snapped up months in advance in record time and demand like that bodes extremely well for an even bigger and better festival in its eighth year.”
Once again Aubrey Allen will be running the ‘Home Cook of the Year’ competition with applications available from the store in Warwick Street, Leamington. The four finalists will compete pan to pan, knife to knife in the Festival’s Live Kitchen on the Sunday.
New for this year is a search to find the town’s best amateur baker with BID Leamington teaming up with Sweet As Cake Emporium, the award-winning chocolate specialist that produces cakes from its bakery in Warwick Place, Leamington, to launch the contest.
Home bakers of all ages are being challenged to put their skills to the test with Jenny Hudson, chef director and founder of Sweet As Cake Emporium, leading the judging of three categories with fabulous prizes up for grabs.
Jenny, who has created cakes for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Phillip Schofield and Peter Andre, said: “There is so much interest in baking at the moment and we know that there are some great home bakers so we thought the Leamington Food and Drink Festival would be a fantastic platform to see what talent is out there.
“As a judge, I will be looking at the skill, creativity and passion that has been put into the bake and of course, the taste. And who knows, we might find the next Mary Berry or Paul Hollywood!”
Contenders for the Leamington Bake Off hosted by Sweet As should register in advance by downloading and completing an entry form from www.leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk or www.sweet-as.co.uk
Full event details including the festival programme for Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, from 10am to 6pm, can be found at www.leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk