Food & Drink Festival Returns For 7th Year

Hertford Town Council is hosting its 7th annual Food and Drink Festival throughout the town from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th October 2018.

The event kicks off at 4pm on Friday with the Street Food Heroes food market in Salisbury Square, and closes with the Hertford Castle Beer and World Food Festival in the Castle Grounds on Sunday 14th from 12pm - 6pm.

On Friday, venues around the town will be running in house events including whiskey tasting at The Old Barge, the OxJam Music Festival in Hertford Club, The Millstream will be offering homemade pies and puddings especially for the event and McMullens will host a five course pop up dinner in the brewery.

On Saturday, Cookery Demonstrations on the Clover Kitchen stage will take place in Parliament Square.

Celebrity chef and Great British Bake Off finalist, Steven Carter-Bailey, will be presenting during the Cookery Demonstrations. Steven will be baking signature dishes live on stage and interviewing other chefs and mixologists whilst they demonstrate their culinary skills.

In addition to the cookery demonstrations, the Mayor of Hertford will be running the Children’s Cake Decorating Competition, there will be food markets in the town centre and McMullen’s Brewery will hold an Open Day and are running brewery tours throughout the day.

Many of the bars, restaurants and cafes in the town centre are also celebrating the food festivities.

There wil also be complimentary tastings at Cavavin in Maidenhead Street, kids can make their own pizza for just £2 at Unico in Fore Street, Rigsby’s Restaurant, Ilvino, Costa Coffee, Serendipity, Prezzo and other restaurants will be offering discounts on the day, The Six Templars are offering free gin, pizza and beer tasting, whilst Hertford Museum is running a food inspired exhibition and many other traders are involved throughout the weekend.

On Sunday, visitors can attend the Hertford Castle Beer & World Food Festival with free entry from 12noon - 6pm. Over 20 world food stands will be cooking up a feast on the castle lawn, there will be live music, a castle open day (until 4pm) and a large beer marquee (until 6pm). The beer marquee will showcase an extensive range of ales carefully selected from the very best independent brewers from the East of England. Visitors can also sample German larger, craft beers and over 50 varieties of gin from around the world.

Hertford Town Council’s Development and Leisure Committee Chairman, Cllr Jane Sartin, said: "The Hertford Food and Drink Festival has become a highlight in the town’s year, and it is great that so many businesses and local organisations are taking part once again. As a fan of the Great British Bake Off, I’m particularly looking forward to seeing one of last year’s finalists participating in the Festival, and the programme offers something for everyone."

The Food & Drink festival is being sponsored by McMullen’s Brewery, Clover Kitchens, McCarthy & Stone and Wrenbridge (the developers of Bircherly Green shopping centre).