Shrewsbury Food Festival to serve up tasty treats
Now in its sixth year, Shrewsbury Food Festival promises to be a delight for the senses when it opens on Saturday.
Visitors to the event, which is being staged in the Quarry this weekend will be able to see for themselves just why the festival has been named the Best Food Festival in the Midlands for the second year running.
There will be 200 food stalls selling everything from artisan cheeses to fresh bread, rare breed pork, authentic Thai street food and gourmet muffins.
TV star Nick Knowles is set to create some vegan treats on the Sunday afternoon and across the weekend on the Wenlock Spring Demonstration Stage will be Robert Swift - fifth generation baker; TV chef Paul Askew, Mytton & Mermaid executive chef Chris Burt; Stuart Collins from Dockett 33 at Whitchurch and Leo Kattou from Simpsons in Birmingham.
Festival chief executive Beth Heath said: "This year we will welcome our 100,000th visitor to the festival. We will help kick start new businesses and give people loads and loads of fun while making sure people learn more about the route from farm to fork.
"There are lots of important people at Shrewsbury Food Festival each year. But the most important people of all are the ones who make sure everything runs smoothly - and that's the volunteers.
"Without them there would be no event. We need 120 each year to keep things on track and the volunteers have been with us from the start. Some of the volunteers have become good friends and we look forward to welcoming them every year at our event.
"We have got a stunning line-up of chefs and we got more kids activities than ever."
Visitors to the festival will still be able to keep an eye on the World Cup thanks to a huge screen which is in the Pub in the Park. There is also Britain's BBQ Competition, real ale, cider, Pimms and drinks. For those in the need of a tune or two there will be live music on the #ShropshireUnsigned stage.
Two charities set to benefit from the festival are Shrewsbury Ark and the Harry Johnson Trust.
Monks estate agents will be donating the proceeds from its Prosecco Bar to the Harry Johnson Trust and all of the food that fills the company's car with being donated to The Shrewsbury Ark.
Children will also be well catered for - there will be a giant climbing wall, a children's marquee, Kids Zone, soft play area and sports arena.
