Exeter Festival of Food & Drink celebrates 10th year

The Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink celebrates its 10th Birthday in 2013, with a special anniversary festival filled with the region’s best food, drink, producers and chefs from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th April in Northernhay Gardens and Exeter Castle, Exeter.

This is the South West’s ultimate foodie event - visitors will discover world-class West Country produce and have the chance to buy from over a hundred of the South West’s best artisan food producers.

Get inspiration and tips from acclaimed chefs in the cookery theatre, learn new skills at workshops and masterclasses and get hands-on with food in the Darts Farm Food is Fun teepees. Young food fans can also have fun in the Little Cookies area.

The birthday celebrations continue into the night with three consecutive Festival After Dark Party nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday offering a great night out for music lovers, with fantastic live music, high quality regional food-to-go stalls, a huge choice of local ales and ciders plus the chance to see live chef demos.

Michael Caines, Exeter Festival co-founder said: “Over the Festival weekend Exeter comes alive with the smell and taste of delicious South West Food. We are proud to be celebrating 10 years as the region’s biggest Food Festival and hope that everyone will join the producers and chefs to take in the festival spirit and celebrate South West food as part of this region’s culture and way of life.”

Over 30 top chef demonstrations and more than 100 food and drink producers selling everything from seasonal vegetables to lamb, beef, rare-breed pork, sustainable seafood, cheese, jam, cakes, chocolate, cider and wine make the Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink a delectable day out or weekend away. With masterclasses, children’s activities and live music, it’s a great way to entertain the family.

Returning for a second year, the Gourmet on the Go feature will be a highlight of any visit to the Exeter Food & Drink Festival in 2013. South West restaurateurs and hoteliers are invited to apply for a “pop-up restaurant” to promote your restaurant and sell your signature South West dishes in manageable "on-the-go" portions. With over 15,000 visits over the three days, this offers you a unique promotional opportunity to a captive audience keen to taste the best of the South West.

Cost for the 3-day event is £995+VAT. Space will be limited to five restaurants, with the Festival Board selecting the most appropriate participants. For further details, please contact Karen Beston, PS8 Ltd karen@exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk or Tel: 07432 614 726.

New for 2013 is the Family Ticket: Up to two kids go free (under 13’s) with two full paying adults.

Now in its tenth year, Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink is supported by Exeter City Council. All profit from ticket sales is ploughed back into the Festival for future years.

Ticket details

Tickets can be booked in advance and are available now. For more information or to buy tickets visit: www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk.

Festival Day Pass

£7.50 per adult. £1 per child under 16yrs and free for children under 5yrs

Festival Weekend Pass

Entry for all three days including After Dark.

£17.50 per adult. £3 for children under 16yrs and under 5yrs go free

Senior Citizens Friday ticket offer

£5 instead of £7.50 per person (Friday 26th only)

Family Tickets

£15.00 based on 2 adults and 2 children under 16yrs

VIP Day Tickets

Includes access to priority seating in the cookery theatre, unlimited access to the VIP lounge, complimentary drink in the VIP lounge, Festival Party After Dark

£15 per person

VIP Weekend Tickets

Includes access to priority seating in the cookery theatre, unlimited access to the VIP lounge, complimentary drink in the VIP lounge, Festival Party After Dark

£30.00 per person

Festival Party After Dark

Access to one of Thursday, Friday or Saturday evenings only, no access to the full Festival

£5.00 per person

*The Northernhay Gardens area of the site is closed from 6pm (last access 5.30pm) The Festival After Dark pass does not include entrance to the producers or features in Northernhay Gardens.

Accommodation: www.devonhotels.com / www.heartofdevon.com/site/group-visits

Further information:

Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink is supported by Exeter City Council.