Broadstairs Food Festival: A celebration of food and drink

The Broadstairs Food Festival is back for 2019 with a delectable mix of delicious regional food and drink. Set in the beautiful coastal town of Broadstairs, with a stunning cliff top position, foodie paradise is provided to food lovers by over one hundred independent traders. The festival is an ideal day out with something for all the family. While taking in all there is on offer from the variety of food stalls, you can also enjoy live music on the bandstand. There will be a children’s face painter at the weekend and on the Sunday afternoon the Theatre Marquee will become a children’s arthouse of colouring and story-telling. The Marquee will be home to a host of workshops: knife skills, olive oil tastings, food demonstrations and a Meet the Food Writers session with Matt Sworder, of The Corner House restaurants and Catherine Phipps, freelance food writer on conversation with Jane Wenham Jones. Cheese lovers will be bowled over by the four masterclasses available in the marquee, sponsored by Heritage Cheese, Borough Market and hosted by Shane Holland, Executive Chairman Slow Food in the U.K. “Broadstairs is the festival of the garden of England,’ says Shane, “the most fantastic produce demonstrations and activities, all within one of the most attractive towns in the U.K. I’m really looking forward to my return visit.” Masterclasses and workshops may be booked through the website broadstairsfoodfestival.org.uk Try your hand at our festival competition and you could be enjoying the festival in style. Festival partners Royal Albion Hotel, The Bay Tree Restaurant and Heritage Cheese are sponsoring a two-night stay, supper on arrival, a signed copy of the Matt Sworder’s Corner-House Cookbook and four masterclass tickets for one lucky couple. To be in with a chance, go to the website and complete the competition sentence. Who knows? The winner could be you. The festival has a growing commitment to recycling, reducing waste and elimination of single use plastic, with a move towards 100% compostable packaging policy. Food Festival organiser Jo Scott says “We are getting drastic with plastic – particularly as we are a seaside location.“ With additional exhibitors this year, the organisers and local businesses supporting the festival are passionate about reducing waste and improving plastic recycling. Traders are encouraged to use sugar and potato starch packaging, paper straws and plastics that are biodegradable. “We’ll be reminding visitors to have a handy canvas shopping bag for all their wonderful purchases – of which there will be many!” The festival not only brings a feelgood factor, but also a monetary value to the town, acknowledged by the support given by Broadstairs and St Peters Chamber of Commerce, major sponsor to the festival throughout its 11 years. The festival is a major date in the food lover’s diary, which is extraordinary, as it is directed and staged by volunteers. “As a volunteer, helping at the festival is great fun, as you get to meet and help lots of visitors. We enjoy great camaraderie at each festival, and it’s a great way to make friends and meet new people!” says Laura Scotney Volunteer Co-ordinator. Entrance to the event which takes place on Victoria Gardens over the weekend of Friday 4^th to Sunday 6th October is free, but do look for the PopAPound donation buckets. These contributions help fund the current and following year’s event. In the interest of all, and the safety and welfare of your pet, only dogs that are registered as assistance animals will be allowed access. broadstairsfoodfestival.org.uk