There’s so much to do at Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink that planning your visit can be tricky, but never fear! We’ve got it covered with our useful round-up of festival highlights to make part of your visit
South West Food & Drink Pavilions
In the South West Food & Drink Pavilions, sponsored by Total Produce, over 100 producers from throughout the South West invite you to discover an array of simply wonderful foods and drinks, products that combine tradition, artisan craftsmanship, creativity and provenance.
From clothwrapped and soft-rind cheeses to meats from traditional breeds; locally produced chutneys and preserves to cakes, baked goods and breads; Devon-grown chillies, handmade fishcakes, local charcuterie, craft beers, cloudy ciders and award-winning wines, and much more: there really is something for everyone.
Stroll through the Pavilions, stop to sample and chat, discover the producers’ stories, and take home with you the fabulous flavours of the Festival.
Sensational street food
After exploring the South West Food & Drink Pavilions and watching your favourite chefs prepare and cook mouthwatering dishes in the Festival Cookery Theatre, you are guaranteed to feel absolutely ravenous.
One of the great pleasures is to discover an ever-growing number of brilliant street food stands within the Castle Courtyard and throughout Northernhay Gardens. Enjoy bison and venison burgers, traditional hog roasts, pies, pasties, char-grilled South Devon ribeye, gourmet hot dogs, the fl avours of South America, the Caribbean, Japan and more!
Feeling thirsty? Don’t miss the Festival Bars, offering the chance to enjoy a wide range of local ales and ciders, as well as wines from Devon’s own Sharpham and Pebblebed Vineyards.
VIP lounge
Throughout the festival, VIP ticket holders get unlimited use of the VIP Lounge located in Exeter Castle, sponsored by Exeter Golf & Country Club, and including a complimentary drink.
There are also complimentary mini-spa treatments in the VIP Lounge, and access to a programme of chef and producer talks. VIP ticket holders gain priority seating at the front of the Festival Cookery Theatre, subject to availability.
Festival cookery theatre
The Festival Cookery Theatre, sponsored by NEFF, In-toto Kitchens, Exeter College and 3663, presents a glittering array of the finest chefs from throughout the South West. Under the guidance of Michael Caines, the culinary superstars entertain and enthrall with a full programme of cookery demonstrations, masterclasses, and head-to-head cook-offs.
Joining Michael is a who’s who of the region’s best known celebrity and television chefs as well as less well known but no less talented local chefs and rising stars alike.
This is your chance to discover how they each create their individual magic, as they effortlessly transform the bounty of our region into their mouthwatering and beautiful signature dishes. Find out what interests them most, where their passions lie, and what drives them to succeed at the highest level.
On Friday, wine expert Susy Atkins is on hand to add advice about matching wines with food.
Food is Fun teepees
The Food is Fun teepees, sponsored by Darts Farm, lie at the heart of the Festival, an entertaining and educational area where you can learn about the value and goodness of artisan food produce and products.
Come along to the AGA Cookery Theatre and meet an array of committed and passionate producers who share their stories as well as the food and drink that they hand-craft.
From a workshop on World Class Cheese with Mary Quicke, Philip Stansfield and Mark Sharman, to a session on beer and curry with Patrick McCaig of Otter Brewery and the team from Boom Kitchen, as well as scores of other demonstrations and masterclasses, there really is something for everyone.
In the teepees, you are invited to gather around the wood fired oven, help make sausages with the Darts Farm Butchers, see and taste delicious foods prepared with skill and care, and find out about the Slow Food movement.
Little Cookies
Bring your little ones along for food and farming fun! Get hands on with Fun Kitchen’s pasta and bread making classes.
In the Festival Farmyard, come meet Kenniford Farm’s chicks, piglets and lambs. Love Local Food weaves magical stories while the Exeter Scrapstore offers creative and play activities.
Find out more about sustainable fish by seeing how many points you can score playing Paignton Zoo’s magnetic fish game, and dare to take part in their Bush Tucker Trial! Farms for City Children and Families for Children – the Festival’s charitable partners – offer more family fun.
Come and enjoy some food related fun with The Gro Company, sponsors of Little Cookies.
Fresh at the festival
We are proud to encourage and highlight start-up producers who have been in business for three years or less and who’ve never exhibited at the festival before.
Look out for the Fresh at the Festival signs and the following exhibitors: Big Belly’s Savoury Tarts; Caprine Capers; Good Game; Feniton Flatbreads; Hi-T’s Fudge; Portlebay Popcorn; The African Chef and The Tiny Marmalade Company. Fresh at the Festival is sponsored by the Exeter Board.
The Great Schools Cook-Off
Encouraging young people to cook is an important aim of the festival. This competition, organised by Exeter College and sponsored by Stagecoach South West, is for 14-16 year old budding chefs who have already won their own school cooking competitions, and made it through an arduous semi-final at Exeter College.
From this, two finalists carry out a head-to-head cook-off on Friday April 25 in the Festival Cookery Theatre. Prizes for semi-finalists and finalists include Gold Megarider tickets.
Grow your own with Fermoys
Come and meet the gardening experts from Fermoys and receive tips on how to get the maximum out of your crops this season and how to grow the perfect plants. Admire over 20 fabulous scarecrows made by local schools in a Design a Scarecrow competition. You’re the judges and can pick your favourite entry. The winning school gets garden vouchers to spend on their school allotment.
Fun and games on the lawn
The World Championship Vegetable Bowling takes place on Saturday from 1-3pm. Why not join in the fun? Instead of using a bowling ball, you’ll send down turnips and cabbages to knock down nasty bottles of fizzy drink. The person who knocks over the most will be crowned Vegetable Bowling World Champion. It could be you!
UK Seed Spitting Contest
On both Saturday and Sunday, meanwhile, a UK seed spitting competition takes place with participants vying with one another to spit their seeds the farthest. Seed spitting competitions are a lot of fun to watch, but they are even more fun to take part in.
Music in the gardens
Local musicians entertain on the castle stage and in Northernhay Gardens. See the full programme here.
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