Hexham gets ready for first Eating Festival

People will have the chance to sit down with a glass of French wine from the Grape Unknown, or enjoy a beer from Wylam Brewery, and watch John turn his purchases from the Hexham Farmers' Market into a range of tasty dishes.

The festival is a celebration of locally-produced food and drink and will see different exhibitors come together to offer different delicacies to suit all tastes.

Tamsin Beevor, at the Hexham Community Partnership, said: "The Abbey Festival is a well established event in the town and we thought it would be great to add a bit to it, to make it even bigger and better this year.

"People will be able to make a day of it and enjoy what there is on offer. The Cloister tends not to get used very much so it's quite nice to be bringing it to life.

"It's really exciting. It's great to be working with all of the other organisations involved with the festival.

"We are hoping it will be a really fun event that everybody of all ages can enjoy and also one that the residents of Hexham can also be proud to have on their doorstep.

"It's all about locally produced food and drink and eating it then and there. There will be tables in the Cloister where people can sit and eat their dishes, or sit and enjoy a coffee or a glass of wine.

"And there is also going to be folk music, street theatre and Morris dancing and all sorts of different things happening."

Stalls from Kielder Organic meats, Ridley's Fish and Game, Fentiman's soft drinks, the Northumberland Cheese Company and Castle Bakery will be among those showcasing their finest.

The event has been organised by the Hexham Community Partnership in association with the Business Forum and the Hexham Abbey Festival.

Malcolm Eglin, also at the Partnership, said: "The Abbey Cloister is a wonderfully atmospheric location. There will be some fantastic food to eat throughout the event and the cookery demonstrations should inspire even the most reluctant cook to have a go at using some of the wonderful locally produced ingredients there are around at this time of year."

The event will be running alongside the annual Abbey Festival - a street festival and family fun day - taking place in the town centre, from 10am to 4pm, on Saturday.
Live folk music will be playing out on the Abbey Flags and children's activities will be in the park.

The Hexham Eating Festival takes place at The Abbey Cloister. Entry is free.

For more information about the festival contact Tamsin Beevor or Lorraine Walton on (01434) 603 022, or email tamsin@hexhamcommunity.net or lorriane@hexhamcommunity.net.