Wirral Food and Drink Festival Goes Back to Your Roots

Get Back to Your Roots with this year’s Wirral Food and Drink Festival. Returning for the third year, this popular festival is held over the August bank holiday at Claremont Farm, near Bebington.

“We are looking to really show how your food gets from the field onto your fork,” said Farmer Andrew Pimbley.

“There will be the chance to see cows being milked. There will be more showcasing of food and farming with organisations such as the Chefs Adopt a School scheme offering tasting challenges and the NFU’s Johnny Ball show.”

This year’s children area will include the chance to ‘Paint a Plate’; cookie bingo from Ladybugs Picnics; face painting, vegetable planting, circus skills and puppet shows from the Panic Family Circus.

Patron Loyd Grossman said: “It is wonderful to see the Festival going from strength to strength. And it is especially important to celebrate the great food and drink offerings available in the region in 2008.”

The Festival, is held on Sunday, August 24, from 10am to 5pm, and Monday, August 25, from 10am to 4pm. It is free entry. Car parking, run by Wirral Lions, is £5. Some children’s activities also have a small charge.

There will be chef’s demonstrations and live entertainment from local folk band Reckless Elbow, as well as live radio broadcasts from Buzz FM.

A new second stage ‘Dig a Little Deeper’ will highlight local producers and different chefing skills.

The specialist Papakata tepee returns with around 25 craft and artisan beers.

There will be a wine and cheese bar, run by the Liverpool Cheese Company and offering wines from Tanners Wine Merchants.

Restaurants, cafes and bars across the peninsula are also holding special events in the run-up to the festival including the popular People’s Cheese Awards on Thursday, August 14, at the beautiful Thornton Hall Hotel. This is your chance to taste some of the top regional artisan cheeses and decide on your favourite. There will also be wine tastings, pairings and chef’s demonstrations.

Tickets cost just £7.50 are available from Claremont Farm Shop, the Liverpool Cheese Company, the Chester Cheese Shop and Thornton Hall Hotel, or contact Rachel Guratsky, Festival Organiser on 07877 921 276  or check out the website at www.wirralfoodfestival.co.uk .