Tasty line up of new exhibitors at Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink

Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink is celebrating an exciting increase in the number of exhibitors it will be welcoming to its 13th festival.

The event returns to Exeter Castle and Northernhay Gardens in April, to bring the city its biggest annual food and drink festival to celebrate the very best of south west produce and producers as a not-for-profit initiative.

Visitors to the Festival can expect to find a wide array of items to purchase, to eat and to drink including produce from the collection of Fresh at the Festival exhibitors – which champions those who have been in business fewer than 3 years. The Fresh at the Festival initiative lends a hand to local start-ups by offering discounted stands, training sessions and free promotion in the run up to the Festival. The training session has been funded by a kind donation from Councillor Andrew Leadbetter from his Locality Budget.

Michael Caines MBE, festival co-founder who champions the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink explains "The 13th Festival is set to be an exciting event which will include new artisan products to sample and buy, making it the perfect place to source the very best produce from the region. We also have many producers joining us for the first time this year, recognising that this is the right marketplace to showcase their fantastic creations. We look forward to welcoming them to the Festival this year."

Newcomer to the Exeter Food Festival is Crediton based producer Louise's Larder who creates a range of uniquely flavoured award-winning artisan products. In 2015 Louise's Larder won a 3-star Great Taste Award for their Rhubarb, Rose & Cardamom Jam, and Gold award for their Gingered Fig and Rhubarb Chutney.

Louise Madge, owner of Louise's Larder says: "We are delighted to be exhibiting at Exeter Food & Drink Festival this year. We are a tiny rural business, which is run from our cottage kitchen. We create uniquely flavoured, award-winning, artisan preserves, chutneys and the original Devon cream tea. Being part of Exeter Food & Drink Festival is a fantastic and exciting opportunity that we can't wait to be involved with".

Braunton Asparagus, Pinnacle Icing, Privateer Jerky and Sherston Tea have also been chosen as Fresh at the Festival exhibitors. From gourmet sausages to vintage ciders, pickled eggs and handpicked crabs, visitors to the Festival can try and buy fantastic food and drink from the region and speak to the artisan producers about their creations in the food and drink pavilions.

This year visitors can spend even longer browsing and buying tempting treats in the food and drink pavilions with longer opening hours for day ticket holders. Northernhay Gardens will stay open until 7.30pm on Friday 22nd April and Saturday 23rd April.

Visit the exhibitors’ directory for a full list of catering outlets, producer stalls, food and drink stands for 2016 - www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk/Exhibitors-2016/.

The Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink runs from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April in Exeter Castle and Northernhay Gardens. The three-day festival celebrates the exceptional food and drink of the South West, featuring more than one hundred regional producers, top chefs, workshops and food-themed activities for all the family. The After Dark Music Festivals take place on Thursday 21st April with headliner Los Pacaminos featuring Paul Young, Friday 22nd April with headliner To The Sun and on Saturday 23rd April with headliner Electric Swing Circus.

Now in its thirteenth year, the Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink is supported by Exeter City Council. The festival is a not for profit event.

Tickets can be booked in advance and are available will be available online. For more information or to buy tickets visit: www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk. For more information about Louise’s Larder visit www.louiseslarder.co.uk.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets to the After Dark Music Festival opening night click here.