Places Features

Newlyns childrens cookery group

The July celebration of local produce will feature over a hundred different events ranging from cookery demonstrations, workshops, farm walks, talks and special open days.

Now in its ninth year, the festival has become one of the largest food events in the UK.

This year’s festival is packed with around 140 different events held at numerous venues, in celebration of Hampshire’s fabulous food and drink.

Visitors can join workshops to learn how to make sausages, jam, chutney and chocolate.  People can also learn more about bee-keeping and growing vegetables.

Plenty of food tasting at the festival!

There are also many hands-on cookery classes for adults and children; food and drink tastings; farm tours; orchard, brewery and kitchen garden walks; barbeques, gourmet dinners, cream teas and local lunches.

Hampshire chefs will give cookery demos at Farmers’ Markets in Alton, Winchester, Romsey and Southsea.  Celebrity chefs will be getting involved in the events as well.

The Hairy Bikers ride into town to give cookery demonstrations at Basingstoke’s Festival Place Shopping Centre (12th July). Hampshire based vegetarian food writer Rose Elliot demonstrates ‘Fast, Fresh & Fabulous Summer Feasts’ (9th July) and hosts a talk ‘How to write a cookery book and get it published’ (4th July) in Winchester.

Michelin star chef Atul Kochhar presents BBQ masterclasses on the terrace of Vatika Restaurant at Wickham Vineyard (25th July). And Valentina Harris will be giving a talk and cookery demonstration at Havant Arts Centre (11th July).

The Hairy Bikers will demonstrate recipes

The festival is organised by county food group Hampshire Fare, which aims to help people discover more about how food and drink is grown, reared and produced on the south coast of England. 

Hampshire Fare was established in 1991 by a small group of food producers who wanted to actively promote the benefits of buying local produce.

Membership has now grown to 200 food, drink and craft businesses ranging from pig farmers and wine makers to farm shops and four star hotels.

Sophie Boxall from Hampshire Fare says: "This year Hampshire farmers, producers, pubs, restaurants and shops have pulled out all the stops to offer imaginative events which showcase Hampshire’s delicious local produce."

Farm tours will be available

She goes on to say that they have taken the recession into account when organising this year's activities: "One third of the food and farming events in the festival programme are either free or cost less than £5 per person to attend - making the festival great value."

Renowned chef Raymond Blanc has given his support to this year’s Hampshire Food Festival by writing the programme’s foreword. Raymond says: “Gastronomically Hampshire is doubly blessed, having the uncommon bounty of both a coastline and wonderful agricultural land. It makes sense to celebrate this, and to boast about it to the world at large…. Nowhere is better placed for better quality local food than Hampshire.”

The free Hampshire Food Festival programme detailing all the food-themed events is available by calling 0845 6035638 or signing up on it's website.

Hampshire Food Festival - Wednesday 1st - Friday 31st July, at various venues across the county.