Ludlow Spring Festival
There will be something for everyone at Ludlow’s Spring Festival which runs over the weekend of May 10-12, from great British beer to rising TV Chefs and activities for children. Over 180 local beers will be available to sample in the Festival pub, and the very best in local produce from cheese to meat and honey will be on sale. TV Chefs Marcus Bean and Will Holland will be taking to the stage. Marcus has become a regular on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ and Channel 4’s ‘What’s Cooking’ whilst Will has just appeared on BBC’s ‘Great British Menu’s. There will also be demonstrations on fish, the secrets of Egyptian cooking, glorious bread baked, an Italian master class and much more. For more info visit: www.ludlowspringfestival.co.uk.
It’s in the bag for Carrie
The Little Coffee Bag Company was set up by Carrie Bate of Claverley just under a year ago, and is already being stocked by prestigious London retailer Harvey Nichols. Carrie is currently in negotiations with Harrods and John Lewis and there is demand for her to export the luxury, individually wrapped coffee bags to Dubai. Carrie and her team manufacture the bags from an outbuilding at her home. She is excited about the response to her products and has some exciting media opportunities in the future.
Learn about wine
Antoinette Milne of ‘Wine for Life Learning’ will be running Wine & Spirit Education Trust courses at Tanners Wines in Shrewsbury, with the level 1 award on Saturday May 18, 9 -5:45pm. £129 which includes all wines, study pack and a simple lunch, included. There are also two level 2 awards running throughout May and June. Please see www.wineforlifelearning.co.uk or call 07814 138065 for more details and to sign up.
Bread making and gluten free cooking
Learn the art of traditional bread making on Saturday 4 May with artisan baker Sheila Tuskan Sager at the Heart of England Fine Food kitchen at Battlefield, Shrewsbury. Sheila will be teaching participants how to produce natural hand baked breads, where the labour intensive process produces superior flavoured and textured breads. £85 per person to include tuition, ingredients and refreshments. On Friday 10 May, Sue Hinks will demonstrate a range of delicious gluten free recipes perfect for canapés and entertaining. £12.50 to include tastings. Please call 01743 452818 to book either event.
Ale in the Dale
The Sun Inn at Corfton will be holding its annual ‘Ale in the Dale’ Beer Festival from 3-6 May. The festival will kick off on Friday May 3 with local celebrity John Challis – better known as ‘Boycie’ of ‘Only Fools and Horses’ opening the event. Over 35 real ales from around the UK will be racked up in the festival marquee and there will be live music throughout the weekend. All profits will go towards the Diddlebury Village hall fund. For more details see: www.aleinthedalefestival.co.uk.
Bridgnorth May Fair
Following the success of last years event, bank holiday Monday 6 May will see the high street transformed for the Bridgnorth May Fair, with a large and varied number of stall holders selling local foods, crafts and plants plus activities for children. It is hoped that there will be Morris Dancers and a ‘mummers play’.
Shrewsbury Food Festival
At the end of June the first ever food festival will take place in the Quarry Park and around the Town of Shrewsbury. Local craftspeople have been invited to exhibit their wares and there will be talks and demonstrations from some of Shropshire’s finest chefs. Visitors will be able to ‘have-a-go’ at baking and learn some of the skills that local food producers use to make scrumptious food. The organisers have also teamed up with the Shrewsbury Film Society, who will be screening foodie films at The Hive, in Belmont, throughout the weekend. For further information visit www.shrewsburyfoodfestival.co.uk
