Making tasty treats with a top TV baker is just one of the activities on offer at this year’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival.
The Durham County Council-run festival, which is expected to attract thousands of people on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 October, will be hosting a series of workshops and talks over the two days for visitors to get involved in.
As well as sampling some of the delicious produce on offer at over 100 stalls, festival-goers can also pick up some tasty tips from Great British Bake Off star, Jane Beedle.
Having kept herself busy running online cookery classes throughout lockdown, Jane is set to present four workshops on each day of the food festival before she launches a new blog and YouTube channel later this year.
Children aged between 7 and 15 can join her for a lesson in making rocky road, while aspiring adults can sign up for demonstrations in babka and Chelsea buns.
Tickets for the workshops, which are being held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, cost £5 each and visitors must book if they wish to attend, with sessions limited to just 12 children for the rocky road events. Children must be accompanied throughout the event by one adult.
For a list of times and to purchase a ticket, visit www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk/jane-beedle-cookery-workshops
Festival-goers will also be able to watch a talk with food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden, as he chats to some of the festival’s award-winning traders about what is on offer in his Meet the Producers event.
With over 30 years of foodie knowledge, experience and tastings, Nigel is known for his support of producers across the country though his work with the Guild of Fine Food and the Great Taste Awards.
He has combined his career at BBC Radio with numerous TV appearances, hosting at live consumer events, judging awards and has also been a restaurant critic.
The free event will be held in Bishop Auckland Town Hall at 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm on both days of the festival. The sessions have limited seats available and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We are really excited to welcome visitors back to Bishop Auckland for our food festival. Not only will there be a host of stalls selling all sorts of mouth-watering goodies, but we also have some fantastic workshops and entertainment planned for both adults and children alike.
“This festival is a key part of our current bid to become UK City of Culture 2025, showing just how important food is to culture and demonstrating how diverse and vibrant our cultural programme is. We have a number of great festivals and events that take place across the county to bring everyone together, and Bishop Auckland Food Festival is a perfect example of this.”
With more than 29,000 visitors attending in 2019, the festival is expected to help boost the takings of local businesses and support the region’s economic recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
It also supports the council’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2025 and is a key part of the council’s vibrant cultural programme of festival and events.
To find out more about County Durham’s bid to be UK City of Culture and to leave messages of support, visit www.durham2025.co.uk and follow @Durham2025 on Facebook and @Durham_2025 on Twitter.
Members of the public can also support the campaign by sharing pictures of their favourite County Durham places on social media with the hashtag #Durham2025.
