Explore England’s New Street Food Markets, Foraging Masterclasses & Culinary Celebrations this Summer
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May 2023: The coming months offer plenty of ways to get a taste of England’s thriving culinary scene with English Wine Week on the way, along with a host of food festivals and events. From brand new street food markets in Manchester and Blackpool to specialist tours and foraging masterclasses across the country, here’s a selection of experiences to celebrate England’s regional specialities and modern food trends on a break this summer.
Brand New Openings
Abingdon Street Market in Blackpool, Lancashire
Opened 27 May 2023
Abingdon Street Market dates back 150 years and has undergone an extensive refurbishment to reopen as a modern food hall. The market now offers street food from six local independent businesses, a coffee shop, cocktail bar, craft beer bar and 250-seat socialising area. Upcoming music events include live performances from Parka Monekys (10 June), Mikey T’s Small Town Playboys (17 June) and The Roost (24 June).
DieCast, Manchester
Summer 2023
A new 5,000-capacity food hall, brewery, night market, urban garden and beer hall complex is ready to burst onto Manchester’s foodie scene. From the team behind Manchester favourites Ramona and The Firehouse, DieCast, in a former metals factory in the city’s emerging Piccadilly East neighbourhood, will feature a bakery, coffee bar, record store, gym, small traders’ workshops and meeting spaces. DieCast will open in phases from Summer 2023.
Fresh Foodie Experiences
Free Walled Garden Wanderings at THE PIG-at Combe, Devon
30 June, 28 July & 25 August
THE PIG hotels are renowned for their plot-to-plate ethos. The West Country properties, including VisitEngland Awards for Excellence Small Hotel of the Year 2023 finalist THE PIG-at Combe in Devon, offer an opportunity to dig a little deeper into their famed food offering with free Kitchen Garden Tours. Guests are invited to explore the vegetable patches, polytunnels and fruit cages with expert kitchen gardeners who share their knowledge, tips and tricks to growing the very best produce throughout each of the seasons.
www.thepighotel.com/events/walled-garden-wanderings
Hull Street Food Nights 2023
1 June, 29 June, 27 July & 28 September 2023
Street Food Nights are back for 2023 offering a wide range of hot food and drink stalls in an open-air setting taking inspiration from all over the world. Head to Zebedee’s Yard in the city to enjoy a drink and something to eat with family and friends in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
www.visithull.org/whatson/hull-street-food-nights
NEW: Fish Over Fire Course at We Are The Salt Box, Surrey
We Are The Salt Box offers a wide range of outdoor cookery courses, foraging walks and dining events celebrating seasonal food and local produce. New for 2023 is the one-day Fish Over Fire course which teaches amateur cooks how to prepare and infuse fire and smoke into fish and seafood at the Woodland Cookery School. The course includes a guided foraging walk through the Priory Farm Estate to gather a selection of wild ingredients and a multi-course feast to end the day.
Foraging Masterclass at Pensons Restaurant at the Netherwood Estate, Worcestershire
14 June & 14 September 2023
Well-known Herefordshire forager Liz Knight will be leading a series of seasonal masterclasses on the Netherwood Estate to discover the delights of wild food. Choose between a half day Summer Florals Garden Forage session (14 June) focusing on flower flavours followed by lunch in the grounds, or half day Autumn Woodland Forage session (14 September) which ends with a three-course vegetarian lunch at the Michelin-starred Pensons restaurant – a VisitEngland Awards for Excellence Taste of England 2023 finalist.
www.pensons.co.uk/foraging-masterclasses
NEW: Morso Vegan cookery courses, dining and events in Bath, Somerset
Launching August 2023
Morso Vegan will offer a delicious range of cookery courses, dining experiences and foodie events, brought to you by Matt and Georgia from Bath’s renowned Demuths Cookery School. Demuths was a pioneer of plant-based cooking and taught people from all over the world. Matt and Georgia will take that knowledge and experience and build on it, bringing a fresh approach to vegan food. The first Morso Vegan cookery classes are currently available to book through the Demuths website until the end of July, with the business fully transitioning into Morso Vegan from August.
Wine and Spirit Celebrations
English Wine Week, Nationwide
17 – 23 June 2023
English Wine Week is a national celebration of Britain’s fantastic vineyards and wine producers – believe it or not there are over 400 vineyards dotted around this green and pleasant land! Each year some of the country’s finest wineries open their doors to welcome visitors, hosting tours, tastings and special offers. English Wine Week 2023 highlights include Rathfinny Wine Estate’s Food and Wine Pairing Tour in East Sussex (19 – 22 June) and Furleigh Estate’s Crab Cracking Masterclass in Dorset paired with the winery’s sparkling wine (20 June).
www.winegb.co.uk/events/english-wine-week-events
NEW: Gin Train Evenings with Shed 1 Gin Distillery, Cumbria
9 June & 15 September 2023
Ravenglass Railway is launching a two-hour gin train evening experience in partnership with Shed 1 Gin Distillery, a VisitEngland Awards for Excellence Experience of the Year 2023 finalist. Passengers will enjoy a scenic return train ride from Ravenglass to Dalegarth to meet the Shed 1 Distillery team to learn about the distilling process and sample artisan Cumbrian gin.
www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk/events/gin-train-with-local-distillery-shed-1-gin
Gin and Fizz at Southover Grange Gardens in Lewes, East Sussex
10 June 2023
The Sussex Gin and Fizz Festival makes its return to Lewes this summer for a celebration of regional gins and sparkling wines in the walled gardens of Southover Grange. Visitors can enjoy free samples, learn about the production process and buy drinks by the glass or bottles direct from the makers. This year South Downs Cider is joining the party, serving a selection of locally made craft beers, while the Sloe Gin Co will be mixing up cocktails from the vintage caravan bar. There’ll also be a string quartet, DJ and a line-up of live music on the Airstream Stage.
www.visitlewes.co.uk/whats-on/the-sussex-gin-and-fizz-festival-2023-p1655981
Wine Garden of England Summer Celebration at Balfour Winery, Kent
10 June 2023
All seven of Kent’s Wine Garden of England producers will come together at the Balfour Winery this summer to celebrate the region’s iconic wines. Each vineyard will have its own marquee for visitors to get to know the people behind the wines and taste their favourite tipples. Events include tours of the winery and masterclasses hosted by English wine expert Clive Barlow MW.
www.winegardenofengland.co.uk/events
NEW: Vineyards of the Surrey Hills’ Summer Spectacular, Surrey
24 – 25 June 2023
The first Surrey Hills Summer Spectacular wine showcase will bring together the county’s five vineyards – Albury, Chilworth Manor, Denbies, Greyfriars and High Clandon. Over the weekend, each will be showcasing their unique offering with special events including; Chilworth Manor Vineyard open day (24 June) with a choice of vineyard talks and exclusive garden access; Greyfriars Vineyard’s Open Cellar (24 June) with a pop-up wine bar, masterclasses and jazz and swing band; and The Albury Wine Festival (25 June) featuring tours of the vineyard, wine tasting and live music.
www.surreyhillsvineyards.co.uk/summer-spectacular
NEW: Summer Events & Specialist Tours at Woodchester Valley Vineyard, Gloucestershire
Woodchester Valley Vineyard in the south Cotswolds has prepared a host of new recurring events to encourage guests to visit this boutique winery and sample the fantastic wines. New tours include Fizz & Chips evenings, Discovery evenings and specialist Geology & Wine tours with an expert geologist to learn more about the local environment including fossil finds. For dog owners, there are special Vineyard Tour & Dog walk events, where, after stretching your legs among the vineyards, you can enjoy the tasting room with treats provided for furry friends.
www.woodchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk/events-schedule
Fantastic Food Festivals
Swindon Cheese and Chilli Festival, Wiltshire
24 – 25 June 2023
Spice up your summer with Swindon’s Cheese and Chilli Festival! Take part in their exciting chilli eating competition as well as other food challenges, or just enjoy cooking demonstrations and fiery treats whilst you browse through stalls selling local and regional products. Live music will provide a great backdrop during the festival, with performances from local bands.
www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/whats-on/swindon-cheese-and-chilli-festival-p3209283
National Geographic Traveller Food Festival, London
15 – 16 July 2023
Hosted at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington, the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival is a celebration of world cuisines and travel in one. The event brings together famous chefs, authors and experts offering live demonstrations and talks along with food and drinks masterclasses. Celebrity chefs heading up the 2023 edition include Nathan Outlaw, Wahaca’s Thomasina Miers and MasterChef’s John Torode MBE.
www.foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk
Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival, Yorkshire
22 – 23 July 2023
The Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival includes workshops and masterclasses, a vintage funfair, live tribute acts, crafting demonstrations, tasting sessions and hundreds of exhibitors. Live celebrity demos will be hosted by James Martin and other celebrity chefs, and there’s also plenty of fun activities to keep young ones entertained.
Vegan Camp Out 2023, Oxfordshire
28 – 31 July 2023
Vegan Camp Out is the world’s largest vegan camping festival as well as welcoming the most international crowd, with campers coming from over 40 different countries each year. The four-day camping event offers talks, live music, afterparties, yoga/meditation classes, workshops and the UK’s best vegan food.
NEW: Three Counties Food and Drink Festival, Worcestershire
29 – 30 July 2023
A new food and drinks festival is coming to the Malvern Hills this year with some of the very best street food from around the world. Visitors to the Three Counties Food and Drink Festival, celebrating producers from Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, can enjoy live cookery theatre from special guest TV chefs and treat themselves to handmade crafts and homewares at the market stalls.
www.threecountiesfoodfestival.com
NEW: New Forest Food Festival, Hampshire
5 – 6 August 2023
The first-ever New Forest Food Festival in Hampshire is taking place this summer at the Hinton Admiral Event Field. Pop-up eateries and an artisan market will feature regional specialities such as the world-famous Pannage Pork, along with craft baking, organic local brewing, artisan cheese and local chocolates. There will also be a New Forest chefs’ demonstration stage, arts and crafts, kids’ entertainment and live music taking place over the weekend.
www.newforestfoodfestival.co.uk
Seaham Food Festival, County Durham
5 – 6 August 2023
Seaham Food Festival returns to the Durham Heritage Coast with more than 100 independent stalls bringing sensational street food, local produce and refreshing drinks. There will also be a series of cookery demonstrations from a line-up of celebrity chefs, as well as a packed programme of family entertainment.
Trout ‘n About Festival, Hampshire
6 August 2023
Trout ‘n About is an annual festival celebrating the Test Valley’s most famous produce – the trout. Each year Stockbridge’s high street is alive with local traders showcasing the very best of local food, produce and crafts. New for 2023 is the TNA Festival Field which includes a main stage with live music and interviews, entertainment for children and a picnic area.
Ludlow Magnalonga Food and Walking Festival, Shropshire
13 August 2023
Adapted from its twin town in Italy, Ludlow’s Magnalonga festival is an English foodie experience like no other, combining an eight-mile countryside walk with some of the country’s best food. Over a period of four to five hours, walkers are encouraged to make several stops to indulge in local produce – washed down with refreshments including real ale, traditional local perry and cider.
Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
19 – 20 August 2023
Now in its 40thyear, The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival will once again celebrate garlic and garlic-flavoured produce from sausages and mayonnaise to ice cream and beer. A firm favourite of the Isle of Wight summer season, the festival takes place just outside of Newchurch and hosts celebrity chef demonstrations, live bands and kids’ shows. The Isle of Wight’s renowned Garlic Farm Shop and Restaurant, located nearby, is a year-round attraction which offers overnight stays in yurts and converted cottages – complimented with a garlic-themed breakfast.
Notes to editors:
- VisitEngland’s comprehensive What’s New in England 2023 overview can be downloaded here. Password is England2023.
For more detail and to receive our latest What’s New and What’s On in 2023 press materials please visit: