Venue > Eating Out West > Bristol Cafes

NEW
POP-UP RESTAURANTS & GUERILLA DINING
Various dates/locations, details announced via websites
Web: www.cloakanddinner.wordpress.com, www.facebook.com/thesecretservicesupperclub
● The Cloak and Dinner manifesto goes something like this: ‘Eating out combines a sense of occasion, the company of friends and that most revered of sensory experiences – eating delicious food. But doing it well can cost the earth. So we decided to take a building, work for free, source food as locally as possible and put on one-off restaurant experiences, priced at whatever diners want to donate!’ The Secret Service Supper Club, meanwhile, pops up on a fairly irregular basis around Bristol. Expect a five-course dinner (inc coffee and aperitifs) cooked by a Cordon Bleu-trained chef, for a donation of approx £25pp (BYO).

LOVE FOOD FESTIVAL
Regularly, usually monthly, Paintworks, Bath Rd, BS4 3EH
Web: www.lovefoodfestival.com
● Food shopping as it should be, in a friendly, vibrant indoor/outdoor environment, at the heart of the Paintworks creative quarter. This monthly event features regional produce from local producers, plus kids’ activities, picnic area and guest speakers to learn from and debate with. Strong emphasis on organics and eco-friendly awareness and practices. Admission free.

BRISTOL ECO VEGGIE FAYRE
29-30 May, Amphitheatre & Waterfront Square, BS1
Web: www.bristol.ecoveggiefayre.co.uk
● Perfect introduction to an eco/veggie-friendly, Fairtrade way of life. Market stalls, info, education and plenty of entertainment. Visit the Veggie Village, Campaigns Collective, Carbon Market, Fairtrade Zone and Food Plaza. Chill out to live music from dawn to beyond sunset.

BRISTOL WINE & FOOD FAIR
2-4 July, Harbourside, BS1
Web: www.bristolwineandfoodfair.co.uk
● Three-day event celebrating fine wine, fine dining and fine food, via a cookery school, International Dining Area and host of exhibitors. This year’s celebrity chef masterclasses include involvement from Barny Haughton, Mitchell (RockFish Grill & Seafood Market) Tonks, Chris (Bell’s Diner) Wicks, Rachel (Demuths) Demuth and Harvey Nichols’ head chef Louise McCrimmon. Globally renowned wine merchants on hand for free tasting sessions, local produce market, bars and plenty of live music and original entertainment.

GRILLSTOCK
17-18 July, Amphitheatre, Harbourside, BS1
Web: www.grillstock.co.uk
● Barbecues… if you’re going to do it, do it right. Make the most of the Barbecue Academy, market, live county/bluegrass music and ‘King of the Grill’ competition: a barbecue cook-off open to pro chefs and enthusiastic amateurs alike, with a prize of automatic entry to the 2011 World Barbecue Championships in Memphis up for grabs.

BRISTOL CIDER FESTIVAL
6-7 Aug, Brunel Passenger Shed, British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, Station Approach, Temple Meads, BS1 6QH
Web: www.somersetmade.co.uk/ciderfestivals
● The third festival of its kind, divided into three sessions (Fri eve, Sat day, Sat eve). More than 100 ciders and parries (including award-winning brews), hog roast rolls and cheese platters, soft drinks for drivers and entertainment from Wurzels tribute act the Mangledwurzels.

SOIL ASSOCIATION ORGANIC FOOD FESTIVAL
11-12 Sept, Harbourside, BS1
Web: www.soilassociation.org
● Highlight of the Soil Association’s Organic Fortnight and one of the highpoints in the organic food world’s calendar. Massive organic market (food, drink, fashion, skincare, homeware), Green Pavilion, demo kitchens, talks and tastings, organic bars, kids’ zone and a fringe programme. The Soil Association is the UK’s leading environmental charity promoting sustainable, organic farming and championing human health: these are the people to talk to if you want to find out where your food comes from, meet the producers and learn about going organic in all areas of your life. Many events are free.

BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT
18 Sept-3 Oct
Web: www.lovebritishfood.co.uk
● Thousands of events taking place around the country in celebration of British food, with Bristol and Bath writ large on the foodie map. Admission varies, but most are free.

FLAVOURS OF THE WEST FESTIVAL
8-9 May, Milsom Place, Milsom St, BA1 1DN
Web: www.milsomplace.co.uk
● Already home to some of Bath’s favourite restaurants (including the Moon & Sixpence and Jamie’s Italian), Milsom Place is fast gaining a reputation as the city’s foodie events HQ. This year’s festival will once again take over the courtyard and walkways to feature a myriad of stallholders, exhibitors, tastings, competitions and cookery workshops/masterclasses, all with a strong local and regionally sourced bias, all weekend long. Admission free.

NEW
BATH COFFEE FESTIVAL
15-16 May, Recreation Ground, BA2 4DS
Web: www.bathcoffeefestival.co.uk
● Demonstrations from top baristas, masterclasses, a food and coffee taste-matching session (courtesy of Bath Priory head chef Sam Moody), plenty of ‘meet the experts’ opportunities, and exhibitors/stall holders/sponsors including Chandos Deli, Green Park Brasserie, Taylors of Harrogate and Lavazza coffee. Fifty per cent of profits will be donated to local good causes including the Bath Rugby Community Foundation. Admission free.

NEW
BATH FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
3-4 July, Royal Victoria Park, BA1 1DN
Web: www.garden-events.com/bath
● New two-day Victoria Park event featuring over 130 local and regional producers and exhibitors. There’ll be a Wine Theatre (with leading wine makers, writers and industry experts), Champagne Garden Bar, live entertainment and masterclasses from celebrity chefs including the legendary Antonio Carluccio, local food hero Martin Blunos and master baker Richard Bertinet.

BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET
25 Nov-12 Dec (TBC), Abbey Square & surrounding areas, BA1
Web: www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk
● Annual arts and crafts-oriented Christmas shopping paradise with a strong emphasis on food and drink.

ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW
2-5 June , Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN
Web: www.bathandwest.com
● Over 600 trade stands (with a heavy emphasis on local produce) regularly rock up to this massive country fair, which incorporates the UK’s most comprehensive cheese show (including a cheese sculpture competition and the National Cheese Awards) and the UK’s biggest cider competition (including tasting sessions). Enjoy the milking demos, chicken-feeding lessons, cooking demos in the Farmhouse Kitchen and a Bees and Honey Tent.

CHELTENHAM FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
19-20 June, Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, Glos, GL50 1SD
Web: www.garden-events.com
● Over 160 local and regional exhibitors, plus a Wine Theatre with leading wine makers, writers and industry experts sharing their knowledge. Leading local chefs (including Martin Blunos – see website for updated additions) showcase local and regional produce in the Intoto Kitchen. Real ale and traditional cider brewers, and a glamorous Champagne Garden Bar, hog roast and live entertainment in the evenings.

MELKSHAM FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
25 June-4 July, Various venues, Melksham, Wilts
Web: www.melkshamfoodfestival.co.uk
● Fortnight-long festival of food/drink-related events, launched and staunchly supported by celebrity chefs Martin Blunos and Peter Vaughan. Highlights the wide variety of producers in the area and celebrates local and regional produce, culminating in the Festival Food Fair in the grounds of Melksham House on Sat 4 July. Film screenings, tea dances, a ‘Safari Supper’ and lots of other events, alongside tastings, shopping opportunities, debates and child/family-friendly activities. Admission free.

FROME FESTIVAL FEAST
10 July, Market Yard, Frome, BA11
Web: www.fromefestival.co.uk
● Part of the annual Frome Festival (9-18 July), this year presenting a stand-alone feast. Stalls, demos and tasting sessions from local and artisan food and drink producers, plus live entertainment and plenty of family-friendly fun. Admission free.

FROME AGRICULTURAL & CHEESE SHOW
11 Sept, West Woodlands Showground, Nr Frome, Somerset, BA11 2AH
Web: www.fromecheeseshow.co.uk
● Now 120 years old and still going strong. Features cheese and dairy produce alongside cattle, poultry and sheep events and competitions, plus plenty of food-shopping therapy and family-friendly entertainment. Admission free.

GREAT BRITISH CHEESE SHOW
25-26 Sept, Cardiff Castle, Castle St, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 3RB
Web: www.greatbritishcheesefestival.co.uk
● Try, taste and buy from a vast selection of cheeses, alongside samplings and tastings, masterclasses and demos. Promises Britain’s biggest Cheese Market, a Best of British Food Market and Big Cheese entertainment.

MENDIP FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
Oct, Various locations, Mendips, Somerset
Web: www.mendipfoodfestival.co.uk
● Ten-day festival promoting and celebrating quality local produce. Participating venues include hotels, pubs, restaurants and cafes, farm shops and farmers’ markets. Lots of other attractions. Many events are free.

Check Venue magazine’s Food & Drink pages for updates and news of local food and drink festivals as they’re announced.

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