July 2012 food and drink events and festivals
Here are our picks of July's hottest foodie occasions.
The Olympics kick off this month, but there's plenty going on elsewhere around the nation. Here's our pick of some of the best events. Please note that all the prices quoted are for advance purchase; tickets are likely to cost more on the day.
30 June-1 July
Flavours Of The Foyle Festival
What: A two-day seafood festival with demonstrations, stalls and local seafood dishes to try.
Where: Queens Quay, Derry-Londonderry
Cost: Free
More info: www.nigoodfood.com/news_article_name/flavour-of-the-foyle.aspx
30 June-1 July
Loseley Park Food Festival
What: Demonstrations, wine and beer tastings with plenty of local food and drink.
Where: Loseley Park, Guildford
Cost: Adults £4; concessions £3; children 5-16 £1.50; children under 5 free
More info: www.oakleighfairs.co.uk/loseley-food
4-8 July
Nottingham Food & Drink Festival
What: A huge market, real ale tastings, demonstrations and much more in the centre of the city.
Where: Various venues around Nottingham
Cost: Mostly free, but some ticketed events
More info: http://www.nottsfoodanddrinkfestival.com
6-8 July
Taste of Edinburgh
What: Loyd Grossman leads the celebs, while top restaurants offer a taste of their wares.
Where: The Meadows, Edinburgh
Cost: Adults £12; children under 12 free
More info: www.tasteofedinburgh.co.uk
7-8 July
Dorset Seafood Festival
What: Demonstrations from star chefs including Mat Follas and Ashley Palmer Watts plus loads of seafood stalls and a wacky harbour race.
Where: Weymouth Harbour
Cost: Free
More info: www.dorsetseafood.co.uk
7-8 July
North East Chilli Festival
What: Taste (if you dare) some of the world's hottest chillis, plus there's an international food marquee.
Where: Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
Cost: Adults £7 for two tickets (National Trust members £3.50 each); children 14-18 £3; children under 14 free
More info: www.chillifest-ne.co.uk
8 July
Pontefract Liquorice Festival
What: Learn more about this exotic import and try a host of liquorice-flavoured food and drinks.
Where: Pontefract Precinct
Cost: Free
More info: www.experiencewakefield.co.uk
13-15 July
Kent County Show
What: A huge country show, which features the Cherry And Soft Fruit Show. Did you know the winning variety is sent to Buckingham Palace?
Where: Kent Showground, Maidstone
Cost: Adults £17.50 (two free child tickets with every adult ticket); seniors £11
More info: kentshowground.co.uk
13-19 July
Birmingham Food Fest
What: Loads of food events, including a big city centre festival, and special menus across the city's restaurants.
Where: Birmingham
Cost: Some events free
More info: visitbirmingham.com/what-to-do/birmingham-food-fest-2012
13-29 July
EAT!
What: Street food, house parties, underground speakeasies and a cake map of Britain are all promised during this two-week festival.
Where: Various venues in Newcastle and Gateshead
Cost: Mostly free, but some ticketed events
More info: www.newcastlegateshead.com/eat-home
14 July
Black Cherry Fair
What: Street food, house parties, underground speakeasies and a cake map of Britain are all promised during this two-week festival.
Where: Various venues in Newcastle and Gateshead
Cost: Mostly free, but some ticketed events
More info: www.newcastlegateshead.com/eat-home
14 July
Mortimer Country Food Fair
What: A celebration of local food and produce, with an evening screening of the film Julie And Julia.
Where: Manor Farm Barn, Brampton Bryan, Shropshire
Cost: Adults £2; children free
More info: mortimercountryfair.btck.co.uk
14-15 July
Glynde Food & English Wine Festival
What: Chef demonstrations from the likes of John Torode, Dhruv Baker and Lisa Faulkner, plus a children's kitchen academy and beer and wine tastings.
Where: Glynde Place, East Sussex
Cost: Adults £10; concessions £8; children 13-18 £5; children under 12 free
More info: www.glyndefoodfestival.co.uk
14-15 July
Great Shoreham Chilli Fest
What: It's going to be hot, with chilli eating, hot sauces, plus seeds, plants and more.
Where: Coronation Green, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex
Cost: Free
More info: www.chillifest.net/#/chilli-fest-shoreham
20-22 July
Gloucester Quays Food Festival
What: Gino D'Acampo, James Martin and Phil Vickery will be popping up at this Gloucester gathering.
Where: Gloucester Quays Outlet
Cost: Mostly free, but some ticketed events
More info: www.gloucesterquaysfoodfestival.co.uk
20-22 July
3-Star Indulgence Food Festival
What: James Martin and Rachel Allen will be demonstrating alongside a mini producer's market.
Where: Festival Place, Basingstoke
Cost: Free
More info: www.festivalplace.co.uk
21 July
Leigh Village Festival
What: Cookery demonstrations and loads of local food and drink.
Where: Village Hall, Leigh, Dorset
Cost: Adults £2; children under 15 free
More info: www.visit-dorset.com/whats-on/leigh-village-food-festival
21 July
Oundle Food Festival
What: Demonstrations, stalls, debate with the Beeb's Sue MacGregor and children's classes in grow your own.
Where: Various venues around Oundle, Northamptonshire
Cost: Mostly free, but some ticketed events
More info: www.oundlefoodfestival.co.uk
21-22 July
Essex Chronicle Festival of Food and Drink
What: Chefs including Aldo Zilli and Gino D'Acampo, demonstrations, kids' cookery classes and a massive outdoor food court.
Where: Cressing Temple Barns, Essex
Cost: Adults £5.50; seniors £4.50; children under 12 free
More info: exfoodfestival2012.nmgl.co.uk
21-27 July
Whitstable Oyster Festival
What: A week-long celebration of the bivalve around the Kent town, although they'll be plenty of other food too.
Where: Whitstable
Cost: Mostly free, but some ticketed events
More info: whitstableoysterfestival.co.uk
25 July
Nantwich Show
What: A huge agricultural show, but what we're really interested in is the International Cheese Awards, with our very own Andrew Webb on the judging panel.
Where: Dorfold Park, Nantwich
Cost: Adults £14; senior citizens £10; juniors £5
More info: nantwichshow.co.uk
27-28 July
Really Wild Food and Countryside Festival
What: A festival all about local Welsh produce and using local ingredients, including walks, talks and demos.
Where: Festival Fields, St Davids, Pembrokeshire
Cost: Adults £6; children 2-16; £2; children under 2 free
More info: www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk
27 July-27 August
Pershore Plum Festival
What: Plums, plums and more plums, culminating in a fayre and farmers' market on August Bank Holiday Monday.
Where: Pershore, Worcestershire
Cost: Free
More info: www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk
Know of an event we haven't listed here? Please add it to the Comments section below (no trade events please).
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