|
Hundreds of
people lined the streets of Chester on the last day of the Food &
Drink Festival to watch the climax of the Festival for 2006, the
annual Medieval Ale Assize and Banquet. Known by many publicans
throughout the city as "The Lord Mayor's Pub Crawl" this
highly successful procession of colourful characters raised thousands
of pounds for The Countess of Chester Hospital B Positive Campaign
and Claire House. The annual Ale Assize also revived a tradition that
hadn't been seen in Chester for hundreds of years, until it was
revived as part of The Chester Food and Drink Festival in 2003.
The Ale Assize
was led from The Guildhall, Watergate Street to The Cross, by the
City of Chester Morris men and drummers from the Armed Training
Corps, who were joined by The City of Westminster Morris men and the
Kinnerton Morris men. At The Cross, a proclamation was made by the
Lord Mayor of Chester Cllr. Mike Jones, Sheriff of Chester Cllr Colin
Bain and the President of the Freeman and Guilds Canon Dennis Kelly.
The Ale Assize
groups went to nine pubs each downing two pints between them in each
pub. Every pub that took part was given a certificate. The day
culminated in a Medieval Feast held at The Guildhall that was
attended by more than 150 diners who enjoyed a two-course meal.
Entertainment was provided by The Soul Cakers who performed a Mumma
Play of St. George and were joined by members of the Chester
re-enactment society.
Stephen
Wundke, chairman of the Chester Food & Drink Festival, said:
"This is
the fifth year of the Food and Drink Festival and we are going from
strength to strength. There really is a food and drink revolution
going on in Chester, with the numbers of visitors to The Taste
Marquee more than doubling, nearly 100 producers stalls on show and
thousands of pounds worth of revenue being brought into the food and
drink industry across Cheshire. We look forward to next years event
and plan to make it bigger and better."
In Medieval
times everyone drank ale, as water was none too safe, and the quality
of the ale would be regularly checked by the authorities - the
Freemen of the City and the Mayor. If ale was not of sufficient
quality for sale the hostelry and landlord would be fined. In 2003,
The Ale Assize formed part of the Food and Drink Festival,
resurrected by the then Lord Mayor of Chester and President of the
Freemen and Guilds, Cllr Brian Crowe. This year, twenty eight pubs
around the city signed up to have their ale tasted by bands of civic
dignitaries and actors clad in medieval costume, with fines going
directly to charity.
Organiser
David Atkinson, Chester city council events manager, said:
"This was
a wonderful day with bright sunshine and plenty of light, bright
music. This was another success that raised thousands of pounds for
charity and adds to the wonderful success of the Food and Drink
Festival."
Chester's Food
and Drink Festival is organised on behalf of Chester City Council
with support from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA),
Visit Chester & Cheshire; the tourism board for Cheshire and
Warrington, Cheshire County Council, Made in Cheshire and North West
Fine Foods
|
