May 2012: Our pick of the top UK food and drink events this month
Asparagus month
1-31 May
Nationwide
May sees the joy that is British asparagus have it’s moment in the lime light. We’ve a host of recipes and tips on how to get the best from this wonderful ingredient.
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
2-7 May
Strathspey
The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival invites visitors to celebrate Scotland’s national drink through an inventive and wide-ranging programme of whisky-inspired events – some educational, all of them fun.
Price: varies according to event.
www.spiritofspeyside.com
Foodies Festival Hampton Court
5-7 May
Hampton Court Palace on the Green, Hampton Court
Cooking demonstrations from Michelin-starred and TV chefs, tasting sessions, cocktail-making and cooking-for-kids master classes for budding young chefs. You can sample and buy artisan food from over 100 exhibitors, indulge in signature dishes from well-known restaurants and sip summer cocktails from professional mixologists.
Admission: 10am-7pm, Sat; 11am-7pm, Sun; 11am–6pm, Mon.
Price: See website for details
www.foodiesfestival.com
The Ballywalter Game and Country Living Fair
5-6 May
Ballywalter Park Estate, County Down, Northern Ireland
The Ballywalter Fair will feature The Flavour Food Festival in the courtyard adjacent to the main house. Organised and hosted by Flavour magazine, the Food Festival will bring together an eclectic mix of producers from the region, allowing visitors to sample and buy some of the finest food and drink available in Ireland.
Admission: 10am-6pm
Price: adults £10; families £25, payable on the gate
www.ballywaltergamefair.com
Real Bread Maker Week
7-13 May
Nationwide
This is the only national week exclusively dedicated to celebrating artificial-additive-free loaves and the local bakers who make them. Whether your local Real Bread maker is the machine at the back of your kitchen cupboard, at a nearby bakery, or at the end of your sleeves, now is the time to GET REAL!
www.realbreadcampaign.org
The Great British Cucumber Festival
12 May
Abbey Gardens, Waltham Abbey
Cue up for this new festival, celebrating a great British ingredient (specifically the Lea Valley variety), with produce, activities, entertainment and more.
Admission: 10am-4pm
Price: free entry
www.cuefest.co.uk
The Fabulous Feast
14-20 May
St John's Hill, Battersea, London
Each of the venues on this road in south-west London will offer set menus to diners for just £15 per head with a free 'open kitchen' event with demos and classes on Saturday 19th.
Admission: See website for venue opening times.
Price: Open Kitchen free, set menus £15 per person
www.StJohnsHill.co.uk
The Allergy & Free From Show 2012
18-20 May
Olympia, London
The UK’s largest annual gathering of people living with food intolerances as well as a host of other medical sensitivities. There’s a cooking zone showing recipes and demonstrations.
Admission: 10am-5pm, Fri; 10am-5pm, Sat; 10am-4pm, Sun.
Price: £10, carers and children under 16 free. £7.50 in advance or free by clicking the link above.
www.allergyshow.co.uk
Malton Food Lovers Festival
19-20 May
Malton Market Place, North Yorkshire
The 2012 Malton Food Lovers Festival runs on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 May in Malton, Yorkshire’s top destination for food lovers.
Admission: 9am-4pm.
Price: £5. £4 in advance.
www.maltonfoodfestival.co.uk
Gefiltefest
20 May
London Jewish Cultural Centre, Golders Green
Gefiltefest is a Jewish Food Charity that embraces every aspect of Jewish food and its traditions. From the humble aubergine to the outstanding Friday night dinner, food plays an enormous part in Jewish identity and celebration. There’s an old joke that every Jewish festival can be reduced to: “They tried to kill us, we prevailed… let’s eat!”
Admission: 9.30am-7pm
Price: £25, family tickets
www.gefiltefest.org
Foodies Festival Hove
25-27 May
Hove Lawns, Brighton
Cooking demonstrations from Michelin-starred and TV chefs, tasting sessions, cocktail-making and cooking-for-kids master classes for budding young chefs. You can sample and buy artisan food from over 100 exhibitors, indulge in signature dishes from well-known restaurants and sip summer cocktails from professional mixologists.
Admission: 11am-7pm, Fri; 10am-7pm, Sat; 11am–6pm, Sun.
Price: See website for details
www.foodiesfestival.com
PLEASE NOTE: The Bath Coffee Festival listed in an earlier version of this article has been postponed to 2013.
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