The award-winning Shrewsbury Food Festival is set to return next month, bringing two days of culinary delights and family entertainment to the Quarry on June 27 and 28. The event, which has been crowned 'Festival of the Year' at the West Midlands Tourism Awards for three consecutive years, will feature top chefs leading demonstrations, more than 180 stalls, bars run by local drink producers, and a wide array of street food.
Entertainment and Activities
Aside from the food, there will be plenty of free entertainment throughout the weekend. Midlands bands will perform on the live music stage, and the bandstand will host continuous performances. The educational Field to Fork area offers insights into food origins, while the family entertainment zone provides free activities, circus skills, and rides to keep children engaged. A new addition this year is a sports area where visitors can try out different activities and potentially discover a new hobby.
Chef Line-Up and Cooking Stages
This year's chef line-up includes Nick Bennett from Old Downton Lodge, Stuart Collins from Docket Restaurant, Adam Purnell (The Shropshire Lad) from Embers Café, Tat Effby (The Caketoonist), and James Sherwin from Wild Shropshire, who recently appeared on the Great British Menu. At the Teach and Taste Stage, attendees can sample food and gain hands-on experience preparing dishes. The Shrewsbury Food Hub will run this area to raise awareness about reducing food waste.
Charity Partner and Community Focus
Shropshire Rural Support has been announced as this year's festival charity. The charity will showcase farming life with farm animals, machinery from Home Farm, exhibits on farming through the ages, and reveal some of the Quarry's historic farming stories. Kate Jones from Shropshire Rural Support said: "It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with the community, raise awareness of the work we do, and have a bit of fun along the way. We're really looking forward to a brilliant weekend, especially seeing visitors participate in the Home Farm Attingham milking competition!"
Evening Opening and Tickets
Following the success of last year's evening concert, the festival will open late on Saturday until 8.30pm, with cheaper evening-only tickets available. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Shrewsbury Food Festival website.
