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Celebrate
all that is wonderful about the region's food - The Wirral Food and
Drink Festival is back for the fourth year running.
The popular festival will be held
over the bank holiday at Claremont Farm, near Spital, and this year
the theme is 'Food Matters'.
Whether it's eating in or eating
out, how it's produced packaged or farmed, the whole culture of food
and how it shapes our lives really does matter.
Whether it is quality or quantity
thinking about your food and where it comes from is important.
The team has linked up with the
NFU, who will be bringing their roadshow along to the festival.
Visitors will be able to learn more about farming and food and the
important roll farmers play in shaping the countryside and feeding us
all.
Entertainment will be big on the
agenda too, with loads of live entertainment from folk bands to
Morris.
The team of volunteers who
organise the festival are all ready hard at work in preparation for
this years challenge.
Andrew Pimbley, who hosts the
festival on his family's farm, said: "The Festival is going from
strength to strength and we really want to emphasise how important
the whole culture of food is and get that message home - Food
Matters.
"The North West has some
of the best produce in the UK and we want to celebrate this."
Last year around 27,000 visitors
enjoyed two days of sunshine - a rare thing in 2008 - shopping from
more than 100 stalls, sampling restaurant food, regional beers and
enjoying the chefs' demonstrations and entertainment.
Restaurants, cafes and bars
across the peninsula will also be holding special events in the
run-up to the festival.
The festival is supported by
Wirral Council, Wirral Farmers' Market, as well as Wirral Lions.
Emma Degg, Wirral Council's
Head of Tourism and Marketing, said: "Wirral's quality food
offer goes from strength to strength, and now includes the BBC Radio
4 award winning Wirral Farmers' Market in New Ferry; Taste of
England's Northwest award winner, Roses Tea Room in Heswall; and this
year's Michelin star restaurant, Fraiche in Oxton. All are
highlighted in our Gourmet Trail, which of course includes the now
annual Wirral Food and Drink Festival, supported by Wirral Council.
"Thanks are passed to the
voluntary organisers of this year's Festival, based at Claremont
Farm, and to Anne Benson, who now chairs the Tourism Business
Network's Quality Food Partnership. Click www.visitwirral.com
for further details about the best places to eat and drink in Wirral".
The Festival, which is being held
on Sunday, August 30 and Monday, August 31 will showcase the best and
tastiest produce around. There will be demonstrations from local
award winning chefs on the Main Stage, as well as a chance to get a
more in depth look at producers on the Dig a Little Deeper Stage.
There will also be the specialist children's area hosted in the
amazing Family Panic Circus Big Top, the very popular Beer Tent and
Papakata tepee, the International Food Court and much, much more.
The story behind the food
festival involves two people having an idea over a glass of wine.
Wirral has a lot to offer and Andy from Claremont Farm and Anne, a
local food writer, felt somebody needed to shout about it and so the
idea for the festival was born. More enthusiastic food lovers came on
board to make it a huge success and without them the whole thing
would not be possible.
Anne Benson said: "We're
always looking for volunteers to help for everything from leafleting
before the festival to helping people at the festival. If you would
like to be involved in one of the best fun events of year please get
in touch."
For more information visit www.wirralfoodfestival.co.uk
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