Latest News: Food Fair & Festival 2008
A Foodie Feast- 6 March 2008
One of the biggest food festivals in the South West, Wellington Food Town has this year grown to a two day event, being held on the 5th and 6th of July. This event celebrates local produce and sets Wellington as the ‘Foodie’ location for the South West. Making the most of top quality food and drink in and around the local area, the festival offers visitors the chance to experience all that this vibrant centre has to offer.
Attracting food and drink producers from both Somerset and nearby Devon, the festival promises to be a major event in the regions’ calendar. Live music, a childrens’ parade, competitions and much more will all complement this two day food event helping to raise awareness of how much the South West has to offer.
Wellington has become a wonderful food destination for all visitors. With over 60 companies exhibiting, displaying a variety of food stalls, sample everything from locally produced meats and cheeses, cider and beer to chocolates and preserves. Enjoy one of the many entertainment displays at what is set to be a great weekend out for the whole family as well as those hard core food enthusiasts!
Organised by the Wellington Economic Partnership, Taunton Deane Borough Council, Wellington Town Council, Somerset County Council, Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade and The Olden Group, and supported by the Wellington Farmers’ Market, the event is receiving great recognition for its commitment to the local community and expects to attract in the region of 20,000 visitors to the area.
John Pragnell, Chairman of the Wellington Economic Partnership said: “Appreciating our local producers and the magnificent part they play towards the growth of our economy here in the South West is vital and it is great that we are given this opportunity to celebrate their success in such a publicly enjoyable way.”
COTLEIGH BREWERY SELECTED AS TOP PRODUCER
Cotleigh Brewery from Wiveliscombe, Somerset, is being recognised for its fantastic produce, having been selected to showcase its beers at the Real Food Festival, set to take place at London’s Earls Court 24th-27th April 2008. This is followed by producing a dedicated beer for the Wellington Food Town, a two day food extravaganza being held on 5th & 6th July in the grounds of Wellington School, Somerset.
Organisers of the Real Food Festival are hand-picking the very best produce and ingredients to bring together the biggest Farmers Market in the country. Cotleigh Brewery has been selected by a respected panel of members who are passionate about produce to ensure quality and integrity. Members of the committee include Rose Prince, food writer and author, Anthony Davidson of Local FarmShop.com and BigBarn.com and Matthew Drennan, editor of Delicious magazine.
Cotleigh Brewery was voted Best Drinks Producer of the Year 2007 by the readers of Somerset Life magazine, a title it also won in 2005. In 2006 it was also awarded ‘category winner’ for Cotleigh 25 in the Excellence in Food and Drink Awards 2006 hosted by Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine and took four gold medals at the Taste of the West Food and Drink Awards 2006.
Fred Domellof and Stephen Heptinstall bought the business in 2003, which began life in the Cotleigh farmhouse stable block near Tiverton in Devon in 1979. Its immediate success meant a move the following year to its current brewing site in the famous brewing town of Wiveliscombe in Somerset which celebrated 200 years of brewing.
Fred Domellof, Director of Cotleigh Brewery, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to show case our range of bottled products in this exciting festival. The Real Food Festival recognises the passion and dedication that goes into making superb food and drink.
Our association with our charitable partner The Hawk and Owl Trust is Britain’s leading charity conserving wild birds of prey and their habitats. Chris Sperring MBE has been working in partnership with Cotleigh for a number of years and is a natural association as most of Cotleigh’s beers are named after birds of prey”
On their involvement with the spectacular Wellington Food Town, Fred added: “Wellington saw a great first event last year and this year is going to be even more exciting, with 20,000 visitors expected to attend over two days and celebrity chefs in attendance. Supporting our local community we have committed to developing a special brew just for the Food Town, which will be sold at the event in July.”
The visitor experience will include:
The Food Market – the biggest Farmers Market the UK’s ever seen. The Wine Fair – Over 100 small producers of quality wines will be selected to offer their wines for tasting and to buy. Taste Workshops – created by Clodagh McKenna and Sebastiano Sardo from Food Discovery, you can meet the producer personally and have tutored tastings on the things you love or always wanted to try. Cookery School – Our sustainable food guru, Barny Haughton, from Bordeaux Quay, Bristol, will be running a Cookery School where you can learn to make the simplest things like a loaf of bread. Chefs’ Theatre – The Chefs’ Theatre will stimulate the taste buds with presentations from some of the UK’s top chefs using seasonal and fresh produce to prepare regional dishes. Restaurants – A small selection of the UK’s most exciting and forward-thinking restaurants will serve signature dishes. Gala Night – A high profile Gala launch night will be organised for Thursday evening, 24 April 2008. Dinner Dates – Why stop at the event? Head to one of London’s Dinner Date restaurants and eat from a menu specially prepared for the Real Food Festival.
Food made fun - 2 April 2008
The Wellington Food Town, one of the biggest food festivals in the South West has just announced that The Co-operative Group has shown its full support for this two-day event by pledging to inform and entertain visitors with its healthy eating message.
Held on the 5th and 6th of July, the event is set to celebrate local produce, making the most of top quality food and drink in and around the local area.
Armed with a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen, The Co-operative Group will bring an exciting new dynamic to this years’ Wellington Food Town and will be available all day on Sunday 6th July. From demonstrating how to cook healthy meals for under a fiver and offering new ideas for making healthy food exciting for the whole family, to featuring its very own ‘Smoothie Cycle’ where children get the chance to blend their own healthy concoction through the force of their pedal power, The Co-operative will offer great all-round entertainment.
Culinary creativity will be dished up by entrepreneurial chef, Mark Earnden, who specialises in displaying how to make food fun, easy and healthy and encourages more people to cook at home.
Said Anne Jennings, senior co-operative affairs officer at The Co-operative Group: “We are passionate about delivering the healthy eating message, and we will use our roadshows up and down the country to encourage visitors to follow our lead. As soon as we heard about the Wellington Food Town, it seemed the perfect platform to continue promoting the benefits of healthy eating.”
Said John Cottrell, Chairman of Wellington Food Town: “We are all thrilled by the news of The Co-operative Group’s involvement and it is great that such a reputable organisation is lending its support to help Wellington Food Town offer its visitors the best education in healthy eating.”
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