Tewkesbury Food and Drink Festival

A May bank holiday feast of top chefs, fine food, live music and family entertainment await at the new-look Tewkesbury Food and Drink Festival 2011.

Held on the first May bank holiday weekend, the totally revamped three-day Tewkesbury Food and Drink Festival 2011 promises to feature celebrity chefs and top food writers, the finest fresh regional produce and the all-new Fine Foods restaurant village.

There’s also a Festival Foodhall featuring more than 80 producers, a mini-festival dedicated to children, and live music to entertain the whole family – not to mention English wine, real ale and cider festivals for the grown-ups.

Being held from Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May 2011, the Tewkesbury Food and Drink Festival promises to be an unmissable celebration of food in all its glory, and a highlight of Gloucestershire’s glittering events calendar this year.

Saturday 30 April 2011

The first day of the Tewkesbury Food and Drink Festival will see celebrity chef Simon Rimmer appearing in the Chef Demonstration Theatre, with Cheltenham’s very own Masterchef winner and celebrity chef Thomasina Miers also sharing her pearls of wisdom. The chilli festival should also be a highlight for those with fiery tastes.

Visitors will also be able to tuck-in at the Festival Foodhall, dine alfresco at the Restaurant Village, sample the delights of the real ale and cider bar, test their creativity in the arts and crafts tent, and let the little ones loose on the Kids Food Festival.

Plus, there’s live music until 10pm from sensational ABBA tribute Summer Night City, Cheltenham’s finest Thrill Collins, Irish revellers the Roving Crows, Lady and the Tramp, Ragtime Jug Orchestra, Elite Jazz and more.

Sunday 1 May 2011

On day two of the Tewkesbury Food and Drink Festival, visitors will be able to see Great British Menu judge and Guardian food writer Matthew Fort appearing in the Chef Demonstration Theatre, with celebrity chef Brian Turner also providing a popular pull and plenty of expert advice.

Sunday’s highlights also include the chance to see acclaimed performer Thea Gilmore on the live music stage, and sample some fine English wine in the Taste Tent. There’s also live music from the Jon Allen Band, Simon Lynge, and Lady and the Tramp to mention a few.

Like all three-days of the festival, visitors will also get the chance to enjoy fine foods at the Restaurant Village, stock up on tasty fare at the Festival Foodhall, sup real ale and cider, try their hands at arts and crafts, and keep the children content in the Kids Food Festival.

Monday 2 May 2011

The final day of the Tewkesbury Food and Drink Festival sees Antipodean Masterchef judge John Torode take to the Chef Demonstration Theatre, where he promises to whip up some exciting seasonal dishes fit for spring. Chef Norman Musa will also be making some signature dishes.

The sweet-toothed will be flocking to the day-long chocolate festival, while the live music stage will be filled with the sounds of top Robbie Williams tribute Danny Lowry, as well as Red River Blues, Funky Junky Monkeys, and brass bands.

It will also be the last chance to get your fill at the Festival Foodhall and the Restaurant Village, take the children to the Kids Food Festival, have a pint or two of real ale and cider, and get arty.