Shropshire Food Festivals 2009

Cleobury Country Food and Ale Trail
May 24th, 2009
Website: cleoburycountry.com

Enjoy a four course meal as you stroll through seven and a half miles of beautiful Cleobury countryside. Tickets available online.

Wem Food Festival
June 19th to 21st & October 16th to 18th, 2009
Website: shropshiretourism.co.uk/wem

The location is the Lower Lacon caravan park on the North East side of the town.

Ellesmere Food Festival
June 20th to 21st, 2009
Website: ellesmerefoodfestival.co.uk

Running since 2007, the Ellesmere Food Festival is designed to illustrate the diversity of food in the region From small beginnings in 2007, its popularity saw it double in size in 2008 which can only be good news for the 2009 festival. There is an impressive amount of quality produce, including local meat and vegetables, cheeses and fruits, and a whole lot more. The main focus of the festival are the market hall and town hall, though there is plenty more going on in the town itself. Entry to the event is free.

Mortimer Country Food Fair
July 11th, 2009
Website: mortimercountryfoodfair.co.uk

This food festival is held at Manor Barn, in the village of Brampton Bryan in the very south of Shropshire. The event has been put together to showcase and celebrate some execellent producers of slow food and organic food in the South Shropshire and North Herefordshire area. Entry is free and the event is well worth a visit.

Oswestry Food Festival
July 11th to 12th, 2009
Website: oswestryfoodfestival.co.uk

This event is organised by a number of local producers and businesses who want to showcase the town's and region's fantastic food heritage. Last year's events included a Real Ale Trail, a festival BBQ using local produce and lots of cooking demonstrations from local chefs. The event itself took place in the town centre on the three main streets - New Street, Bailey Street and Cross Street. Take a look at their website for a full list of events and exhibitors for 2009.

Ludlow Food Festival
September 11th to 13th, 2009
Website: foodfestival.co.uk

Arguably the main event when it comes to food festivals in Shropshire, this yearly event has attracted a huge reputation, both locally and nationally for more than a decade. The main event is located within the walls of Ludlow Castle and includes several huge marquees, filled with local producers and a few national names. As well as all the great food and drink on offer, there are also plenty of demonstrations and talks, repeated throughout the day. Most people come on Saturday and Sunday and it can be quite a task to get within buying distance of some of the more popular stalls. Best advice is to come on Friday, when the entrace fee is smaller and so are the crowds.

Welsh oggies, rare breed meats, cider, perry.

Outside the castle there is plenty going on too. The whole town embraces the event, including the fantastic local food shops, such as Bings Heath Smokery and Mr Moydens Handmade Cheese. Two very popular parts of the event are the sausage trail and the beer trail. It is best described as a sort of treasure hunt through the town, sampling the best local sausages and beer on offer. You are asked to vote as you go along, and you are helping towards the people's choice award. A bread trail has also taken place in the last couple of years.

Attingham Park Food Fayre
September 19th to 20th, 2009
Website: nationaltrust.org.uk

The location is the National Trust property Attingham Park on the eastern edge of Shrewsbury.

 

And from our neighbours...

Below are a few notable food festivals in Powys, Cheshire and Herefordshire. You'll find some impressive regional produce from up and down the Welsh Marches at these events.

Welsh Food Festival
September 1st to 2nd, 2009
Website: welshfoodfestival.co.uk

Abergavenny Food Festival / Gwyl Fwd y Fenni
September 19th to 20th, 2009
Website: abergavennyfoodfestival.com

Nantwich Food and Drink Festival
September 25th to 27th, 2009
Website: nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk

Gorgeous Fine Food Fair
October 10th, 11th 2009
Location: Enginuity, Ironbridge.
Another chance to get your hands on products from the region’s top food and drink producers to include homemade cakes and biscuits, locally produced wine, free range meat and preserves.

Flavours of Herefordshire Food Festival
October 24th to 25th, 2009
Website: herefordshirefoodfestival.com