mendip food and drink festival

Please keep checking this page for further events. For information on each of the participating venues, please see their details on the ‘participants’ page.

We advise that you double check with the venue directly before visiting to confirm any booking arrangements, opening times, availability of tastings and special menus etc.

Charabanc Supper
Three award-winning restaurants, at the Swan Hotel, Ston Easton Park and Charlton House hotel, will combine to offer diners a 3 course meal with a twist. Each course with a glass of wine will be served at a different venue. The evening will be compered by celebrity chef Martin Blunos and transportation between the venues will be provided in the form of a vintage bus. The event will begin at 7pm with welcome drinks and a starter in the beautiful 15th Century Swan Hotel. Head Chef, Paul Mingo-West, has long been recognised for his talent in the kitchen with the award of AA Rosettes since 2005. With appetites whetted, diners will hop aboard the vintage bus for a short trip to the elegant Ston Easton Park. Here, award-winning Head Chef Michael Parke, will prepare a sumptuous main course using ingredients from the organic Victorian kitchen garden. For the final leg of supper, diners will journey to Charlton House, a superb country house hotel. The Sharpham Park Restaurant showcases seasonal delights and dessert is sure to include Organic Spelt which is grown and milled at the farm. This promises to be a fitting finale to this fantastic culinary experience. At approximately 10.30pm the bus will take diners back to the Swan hotel. Tickets are priced at £39.95 per person and include transport, a welcome drink on arrival, a 3-course dinner with coffee and wine with each course. Tables will be mixed, up to 8 guests. Please contact The Swan Hotel on 01749 836319 and advise if you have any special dietary requirements.

Taste of the Mendips Beer Festival
Meet the Mendip Brewers at The George Inn, Croscombe, for the opening of the festival. 8pm. Festival continues all week. The George Inn: 01749 342306.

Glastonbury Farmers Market
9am-1pm, St Johns Car Park near the High Street, Glastonbury, with children’s competition and small prizes, presented by Martin Blunos. Also, collect your Transition Town Food Map. For further information, contact Somerset Food Links on Tel 01458 241401.

The Orchard Pig tours
Tours of our crushing and bottling plants and guided foraging tours (by Adrian Boots) of the combe at West Bradley, taking in our orchards and the surrounding hedgerows and streams. We will offer tastings of our apple juices and ciders, and a barbeque. After the foraging expeditions there will be cooking demonstrations and sampling. Bookings in advance for the foraging expeditions: 01458 851222. We will also welcome visitors who have not booked, and those who just wish to visit the cider making facilities of The Orchard Pig.

Autumn Fruits Cookery for Children
10.00am-2.30pm, Sharpham Park Shop & Harlequin Café at Kilver Court Gardens, Shepton Mallet. With an abundance of Autumnal fruits it’s an ideal time to let the children get creative in the kitchen. £15 per child to include soft drinks and organic lunch. 01749 340410.

Croscombe Charter Market
10-12 noon in Croscombe Village Hall. An extra, special Market selling good home baking, savouries, cakes & preserves together with locally produced crafts. The Mendip Bottle wines, Annamma’s Curry Sauces and Somerleaze cider-apple juice will also be there. Fairtrade refreshments with home-made cakes. We look forward to meeting you. Tel: 01749 345322/343502 for more information.

Farm Open Day
Brown Cow Organics, Perridge Farm, Westholme, Pilton, BA4 4EW. Sausage & Faggot making demonstrations. Farm Walk. 11am-3pm. www.browncoworganics.co.uk

Astrology Menu
A great local menu with an interesting astrology theme! La Lune Ltd, 22 High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9DU. Tel: 01458 832284.

Film Screening: “Quince, Venison and Peas”
A film about recreating a 17th Century feast and the producers of heritage foods that made this possible. From the Food Frome stable. After the film, tasters of 17th Century style food will be served and there will be a chance to discuss the film with members of the project team. Admission £5 on the door, children and seniors free. Doors open 7.30 pm. Film 8pm. Trinity Church Hall, Trinity Street, Frome.

Live Music
at The George Inn, Croscombe, with the Mendip’s Travelling Band. 8pm, free admission. The George Inn: 01749 342306.

Gert Posh Tea!
Farrington’s Farm Shop, Farrington Gurney. At 4pm, the café is converted into a luxury venue for a deluxe afternoon tea that features the very best bakery food for the Mendip area. Book your seats (£9.95) on 01761 451698 or call into the café.

Mendip Traditional Sunday Lunch
At The George Inn, Croscombe. The best local beef and pork roasts on the Mendips! £8.95pp advance bookings please. The George Inn: 01749 342306.

The 4th annual Mendip Food and Drink Quiz
At The George Inn, Croscombe. 7:30pm, advance entry only, teams of 4 £10. 1st prize is Jon Thorner’s Xmas Hamper. The George Inn: 01749 342306.

Pub Quiz
The Kings Arms, Litton. Based on Mendips, local produce et al. The Kings Arms, Litton, Radstock, Somerset BA3 4PW. Tel: 01761 241301. info@thekingsarmslitton.co.uk www.thekingsarmslitton.co.u

Apple Day cookery demonstration and lunch at Ston Easton Park
With The Gaymer Cider Company. Ston Easton Park, Ston Easton. The Victorian Kitchen garden here at Ston Easton Park features an Orchard with an interesting collection of apple varieties and they often feature on our menus in a wide range of dishes. Join us from 10.30am when we will give you the opportunity to see a snap shot of the vast range of apples we grow in this country. David Hammond will then demonstrate some interesting ways of using apples in your cooking at home and provide you with some recipe sheets to take home. After the demonstration, a two course apple-inspired lunch will be served in the restaurant and complemented by a glass of refreshing local cider supplied by the The Gaymer Cider Company. Lunch will be followed by a talk from Bob Chaplin and Bob Cork of Gaymer Cider who will delve into the role that apples play in the fascinating world of cider making. Tel: 01761 241631. £30 per person.

Children’s Activity Day
Farrington’s Farm Shop, Farrington Gurney. Loads of activities to keep your children happy, and all based on local food! Potato printing, biscuit decorating, chocolate fountain, pumpkin carving/painting, a huge potato catapult. Make some local sausages and we will even cook them for you! No need to book – just turn up and pay £5. 2–4pm.

Gaymer Cider Mill Tour
The Gaymer Cider Company will once again be inviting visitors on a special tour of the cider mill. The tour will begin at 2.00pm in the Cider House with refreshments and an introductory talk. Visitors will then be taken on a site tour, where they will see the apple processing, production and bottling facilities, before afternoon tea in the Cider House and a tasting of the end product! Visitor numbers are limited to 25 and all must be over the age of 18 years. No group bookings please. Please book by calling the Gaymer Cider Company, Shepton Mallet. Tel: 01749 334000.

From Field to Plate
Sharpham Park Shop & Harlequin Café at Kilver Court Gardens. There’s no better way to embrace Autumn than experiencing Game fresh from the Mendips. Join Paul Jeffrey, Master Butcher at Sharpham Park Shop, who will show you how to prepare a selection of Game from our Sharpham Park Estate. The food journey will continue as we give you suggestions and demonstrate how the game can be used to create hearty autumnal dishes to impress your friends. You will also get the opportunity to try some of these dishes over lunch. £30 per person to include demonstrations, two course lunch and a glass of wine. 10.00am to 3.00pm.

Food tastings
Tastings in store on October 29th and 30th. Frome Wholefoods, 8 Cheap Street, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BN. Tel: 01373 473334.

Luxury Lunch
At The George Inn, Croscombe, with ITV’s award winning amateur chef Peter Nunn. 3 courses & wine £25pp advance bookings only. The George Inn: 01749 342306.

Wells Safari Supper
After the success of last year’s Safari Supper the Swan Hotel, Andre’s and The Crown are combining once again to offer diners a 3-course meal with a twist. With every course served at a different venue, diners will have the opportunity to stretch their legs between each culinary delight. The event will begin in style at 7pm with welcome drinks and a starter in the beautiful 15th Century Swan Hotel. Diners will then have a short walk to Andre’s. Head Chef Andre has a wealth of experience to call on having cooked in Bermuda, Australia and Thailand. This former chapel provides an attractive setting in which Andre can showcase his extensive skills. After a short stroll diners can enjoy dessert in the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of Anton’s Bistro in The Crown. With over 500 years of history, The Crown is a fitting setting in which to round off a memorable evening. Tickets are priced at £25.00 per person and include a welcome drink on arrival, a 3 course dinner with coffee and wine with the starter and main course. Please contact The Swan Hotel on 01749 836319 and advise if you have any special dietary requirements.

Renowned Curry Night Buffet
At The George Inn, Croscombe. £10.95 advance bookings only. The George Inn 01749 342306.

Special promotion on Steak and Gourmet Burgers
The White Hart Hotel’s Brufani’s Steak & Gourmet Burger Restaurant, Wells. All beef is locally sourced. Pre-book your table and mention the Mendip Food and Drink Festival for a 10% discount on food only. Tel: 01749 672056. Fax: 01749 671074 info@whitehart-wells.co.uk www.whitehart-wells.co.uk

Shepton Mallet Food Crawl
6pm – late. One of the big hits from the 2007 festival is returning through popular demand. Nearly 100 people enjoyed a wide array of speciality food and drinks provided by local businesses. Supported by festival sponsors Old Mill accountants and financial advisers and Shepton 21.
• Lisboa Portuguese Café – Tastes of Portugal
• Peppers Deli and Café – a deli selection
• Chats Café – special desserts
• Pickwick’s Caffé – coffee and treats
• Delicious Delicatessen – home cooked specialities
• Denela’s Coffee Lounge – cakes and buns
• Stumbles Inn – Local brews, cider, juice and entertainment.
From the social hub at Stumbles Inn you will be free to indulge yourself in any order you like. Price £15 per head (must be purchased in advance). Available from participating venues and Shepton Mallet TIC 01749 345258.

Mendip Steak Night
Finest local beef cooked to perfection. The Kings Arms, Litton, Radstock, Somerset BA3 4PW.
Tel: 01761 241301. info@thekingsarmslitton.co.uk www.thekingsarmslitton.co.uk

Ploughman’s Heaven
Tea and Trade Rooms, Church Street, Radstock BA3 3QG. A wide selection of ploughman’s will be available with local hams, cheeses and home made chutneys. The chutneys are made by Suzanna and Mary at the Tea and Trade Tearooms and these will also be on sale during the event. They plan to use as much local produce as possible. Also on sale will be a selection of home made cakes and quiches, and with Christmas in mind, a selection of our Christmas Cakes and very popular low fat Christmas Puddings. (Also Saturday, November 1st).

Children’s Halloween Party
Farrington’s Farm Shop, Farrington Gurney. Mashed potato flinging will be the highlight of the event along with apple bobbing. Musical chairs and a BBQ feast will help round off a great day. No need to book – just turn up and pay £5. Under 8s: 2-4pm, 8-11 year olds: 4-6pm.

Halloween Bite Night
6.00pm – 9.00pm. Only in Glastonbury on the zaniest night of the year can you sink your teeth into delicacies from around the world! Sample drinks and goodies from a host of seven local eateries, including La Lune and The Lazy Gecko. Congregate in the pub and then feel free to indulge your gluttony in any order you like! Live music in selected locations! Be our chosen “fright night sight” – a prize for the best vampire costume on the night! Attend or beware! Further information, full venue list and tickets £15 in advance from Glastonbury Tourist Information 01458 832954.

Midsomer Norton Farmers Market
Methodist Church Hall. 9am-1pm. Face of the Festival, chef Martin Blunos, visits the market to collect ingredients for a cookery demonstration. Join us during the afternoon for food and cookery demonstrations: 2.30pm–5.00pm, Tea and Trade Rooms, Radstock. Limited tickets available, cost £5. Event sponsored by Bath and North East Somerset Council. For further information or ticket bookings contact: Sara Dixon, Bath and North East Somerset Council on: 01225 396594.

Acoustic Jam night
At The George Inn, Croscombe, with Mendip musicians. 8pm, free admission. The George Inn: 01749 342306.

Chesterblade Hills Barn Dance
Come along for a family friendly Barn Dance evening, live music, the best BBQ Angus Burgers and The Bus Stop providing local cider. 7pm–11pm. For tickets and more details contact Ed on 07966 510552 or email enquiries@chesterbladehills.co.uk

Mendip Traditional Sunday Lunch
At The George Inn, Croscombe. The best local beef and pork roasts on the Mendips! £8.95pp advance bookings please. The George Inn: 01749 342306.