Member Article

Success for inaugural Northumbria Food & Drink Festival

Families and foodies flocked to the inaugural Northumbria Food & Drink Festival, which celebrated the very best of local produce.

The first-ever Northumbria Food & Drink Festival, presented by appetite, Cheers and The Northumbrian magazines, took over the food gateway to Hadrian’s Wall, Vallum Farm.

Serving up fantastic food, local ales and spirits, along with live music and demonstrations from some of the region’s leading chefs and producers, the event was held in aid of Newcastle-based international aid organisation No Strings.

appetite editor Jane Pikett said: “We have such incredible producers, brewers and chefs on our doorstep and we thought it was time we celebrated them with an event especially dedicated to what Northumberland has to offer.

“It was fantastic to see so many fellow food and drink lovers, young and old, enjoying a packed programme of tastings, demos, music and family entertainment. We now can’t wait to start putting together the next one!

“This is the first food & drink event under the appetite, Cheers and The Northumbrian banners and comes at an exiting time of investment and expansion at our parent company Offstone Publishing.”

Offstone Publishing was launched in 2010 by business partners Jane Pikett and Gary Ramsay, who have five decades of publishing experience between them. The company offers publishing, public relations, design and marketing services.

Its first food festival featured a programme of tastings and demos, including gin and beer with Cheers editor Alastair Gilmour.

Close House chef Craig Harvey revealed the tricks of preparing game while Peace & Loaf’s Dave Coulson, Rhian Craddock from The Feathers Inn at Hedley on the Hill and Martin Charlton of The Old Boathouse and Fish Shack in Amble were also on hand.

Music was curated by the team at NARC. magazine and there was family entertainment including bouncy castles, pony and tractor rides, kick golf and puppet workshops with No Strings’ puppeteers.

No Strings founder Johnie McGlade said: “We’re hugely grateful to Offstone Publishing and to Vallum Farm for giving us the opportunity to showcase the work we do in the developing world to an appreciative audience here in the North East, as well as helping to raise vital funds for the charity.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Fiona Brook .