The Bishop Auckland Food Festival proved a tasty weekend treat for thousands of visitors to the County Durham market town.
Despite the rain-sodden start to the now annual celebration of culinary creativity, organisers said the familiar menu of tantalising treats, cookery workshops, street entertainment and live demonstrations from a sprinkling of celebrity chefs had hardy festival-goers coming back for more.
An estimated 28,000 visitors flocked to the town for the festival, over the largely rain-sodden weekend.
Almost 140 stalls lined the streets, with traders from the North East and beyond selling everything from bangers and burgers, to curries, cheeses and chutneys.
Read more: Bishop Auckland Food Festival: Pictures from the 2023 event
There was a global feel to the food offerings, with Armenian, Georgian, and Lebanese recipes mixing with more familiar South Asian and Oriental dishes.
Famous chefs familiar from highly popular tv shows displayed their skills on the festival’s Cookery Theatre stage.
They included MasterChef 2018 winner, Kenny Tutt, and rising cookery stars from Great British Bake-Off, Sandro Farmhouse and Janusz Domagala, on day two today (Sunday April 23), with the demonstrations compered by host Chris Bavin.
He also oversaw proceedings in less favourable weather on Saturday, as Janusz, was joined by Irish cookery tutor, writer and broadcaster Rachel Allen, and ITV This Morning mainstay Phil Vickery, braving the deluge from the heavens.
Despite the conditions, they expertly cooked up a range of dishes, sweet and savoury, while enlightening bedraggled festival-goers with cookery memoirs and anecdotes.
The cost of living crisis was a theme that cropped up over the weekend, with festival-goers, being, perhaps, more selective than they may have been previously.
Several traders appeared to factor it into their pricing, with offers and price cuts on certain items, all part of the need to remain competitive despite rising production costs proving problematic for all in the food and drink industries.
One of the stall-holders, Beth Webster of Three-Brothers Brewing Company, said such festivals are part of the Eaglescliffe businesses’ annual must attend events.
“We do the food festivals like this and there’s lots of business here, but we also do the beer festivals, room hire and our own beer festivals, but we always try to keep competitive.”
At a nowadays reasonable £4 a pint the Three Brothers’ hand pulls proved popular, getting the thumbs up from one appreciative rain-soaked customer, Belinda, from Bishop, who after one sip of Trilogy Blonde commented simply: “Fantastic!”
Business was also brisk in the neighbouring Rose Cottage Pantry stall, where the offer of any mix of four pies for £10 appeared to tantalise the taste buds of many festival-goers.
Read more: Rain can't dampen enthusiasm at start of Bishop Auckland Food Festival
The turn-out for the two-day event, organised by Durham County Council, was estimated as high as 28,000, which was remarkable given first-day conditions.
Councillor Elizabeth Scott, the council’s cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “Bishop is at its best when you see it like it’s been this weekend, packed with visitors, traders and families all having a great time.
“That’s the beauty of wonderful events like this, they really bring a place to life as well as footfall for the local retailers and hospitality businesses that serve the town all year round.
“We’ve had stalls selling fantastic food and drink, celebrity chefs showing off their skills, and live music, entertainment and activities for people of all ages.
“Traders have had an opportunity to reach new customers and people have come out and enjoyed themselves.
“We hope everyone has had a fantastic weekend.
“A huge effort goes into events like this and I’d like to thank our traders and celebrity guests, the festival’s supporters and sponsors, plus all the staff and volunteers who have made this happen.
“This is just one of many events we organise and there are plenty more to look forward to this year.”
The Mayor of Bishop Auckland, councillor Michael Siddle, said: “It’s always a wonderful weekend, with traders from near and far, vibrant and unique street entertainment, and cookery demonstrations from famous faces.
“The air is filled with delightful smells, and the sound of chatter and laughter as people gather to reminisce with old friends they may meet, or the new ones they make.
“The festival really does have all the perfect ingredients!
“Visitors get to see and experience the best of Bishop Auckland, from our bubbly and warm hospitality to our fabulous local traders and our wonderful visitor attractions.
Read next:
* Bishop Auckland Food Festival: Celebrity times, park and ride & more
* Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2023: Everything you need to know
* BISHOP AUCKLAND FOOD FESTIVAL
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“We hope everyone had a fantastic time and that they come back to see more.”
Bishop Auckland Food Festival is supported by Bishop Auckland Town Council and Durham County Council's Towns & Villages programme.
Further information is available via bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk, the event website.
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