FOODIES FESTIVAL – the UK’s biggest touring celebrity food and music festival series – is returning to Escot from 16th to 18th June.
Known as Gastro-Glastonbury, the three-day event features live cooking demonstrations from top chefs drawn from the ranks of TV’s MasterChef, Great British Bake Off and Great British Menu, plus top-rated Michelin-starred and award-winning chefs. The musical feast is just as sumptuous with chart-topping disco diva, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and noughties platinum-selling Brit Pop sensations Toploader.
Early announcements of star names appearing in the live cooking theatres include: MasterChef: The Professionals star, Carla Jones, head chef from AA Rosette awarded and Michelin recommended The Seacliff, near Ilfracombe; Great British Menu finalist, Sam Lomas, head chef from Michelin recommended Glebe House in Southleigh; and national TV and radio regular, author and reviewer, Orlando Murrin.
Showcasing the best of Devon, many of the most-highly acclaimed Michelin and multi-award-winning chefs will also appear, including Mark Dodson, chef-patron of Michelin starred Mason Arms, in Knowstone, Jay Barker-Jones, chef-patron of Michelin recommended Dartmoor Inn, in Lydford, Daniel Gavrillidis, head chef of Michelin recommended The Pig at Combe in Honiton and founder of Devon Cookery School, Jazzi Curley.
On Friday, the festival is launching ‘Cocktails, Cabaret and Cake’ –a fun-fuelled schedule of events with a comprehensive selection of traditional and on-trend new cocktails to tempt the tastebuds, cocktail-making sessions with flamboyant mixologists and theatre shows. Including: entertaining cabaret sessions, drag artists, competitions, comedy, top tribute acts and local performers, all headlined by a superb ABBA tribute band.
Throughout the 3-day weekend, visitors will enjoy a jam-packed schedule of TV cooking show champions and award-winning chefs in the interactive live theatres. In the Chefs Theatre, celebrities will create their signature dishes and share new tips and tricks, whilst in the Cake & Bake Theatre, star bakers whip up showstoppers and offer tempting sweet treats.
In The Kids Cookery School, Foodies SuperChefs make cooking fun, helping younger guests to prepare delicious food which they can take away and enjoy. Masterclasses in the Drinks Theatre include tutored Champagne, Beer, Cider, Cocktail and Wine-tasting, including presentations from BBC expert, Joe Wadsack, and ITV expert, Tom Surgey.
Visitors can browse the latest food trends in the Shopping Village, meet local producers in the Artisan Market and taste exotic and unusual new dishes in the Feasting Tent – which features a mouth-watering range of street food and delicacies from all four corners of the globe. Other attractions include a fairground, children’s activities, and family-friendly areas.
New features for 2023
- Top TV Chef Challenge: This battle of the best will see winners and finalists of MasterChef competing with the winners of Bake Off and Great British Menu as they take to the live stage, in a highly competitive cook-off to create the most impressive dish.
- Theatre Takeovers: Expect comedy, hit songs, audience participation, Drag Queens, and a lot of fun!
- Green Fingers: meet the experts hosting sessions on grow your own fruit and veg, discover new varieties, recipe ideas and health benefits.
- Doughnut Dash!: A messy race to eat the most doughnuts against the clock…while our host distracts competitors with other silly tasks!
- Cake-aoke: Audience sing ’n’ bake-along with Foodies multi-talented hosts.
Plus!
- Meet the authors and discover new recipes in the Cookbook Shop – with celebrity signings, photo opportunities and top chefs’ showcasing their latest cookbooks.
- World Chilli eating Champion Shahina Waseem will challenge those brave enough to compete. Competitions will be broadcast to ‘League of Fire’ audiences around the world.
- Kids Can Cook!: Budding junior MasterChefs get creative in the Kids Cookery School, hosted by Foodies SuperChefs.
- The Musicians Against Homelessness main stage will feature over 25 superb artists. Including top headliners, the best of local bands and an introduction to exciting new acts from across the UK.
For the fifth year running, the festival is supporting Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) with tickets raising money for UK-wide homelessness charity Crisis.
Dates and tickets
Escot Park, Ottery St May, Devon EX11 1LU
16th – 18th June 2023
Day tickets from £3 (child) and £18 (adult)
Weekend tickets from £38 (3-day)
On sale now at www.foodiesfestival.com
