Broadstairs Food Festival 2017

• Written by: Lorraine
• Written on: September 8, 2017
• Filed Under: 2017 Events, Broadstairs, Eating out, Local Area, Shopping

Twice a year since 2009 Broadstairs Food Festival takes place in Spring and Autumn. Both events seem to grow and get better every time so we are currently in a state of excited anticipation for the next one which takes place Friday 29th September till Sunday 1st October 2017. We are counting the days!

Festival Location

The above image has been take with a drone camera and shows the stunning location for the Autumn Broadstairs Food Festival perfectly. (The Spring Fair Food Festival takes place in Pierremont Park in the heart of the town). The small beach at the top of the picture is Louisa Bay, off to the left, on the other side of the bandstand and clock tower, is Viking Bay, Broadstairs’ main beach. So the Festival site is right between the two, on the clifftops overlooking both beaches.

It is in Victoria Gardens next to the bandstand, a lovely spot. In addition the stalls stretch up all along the seafront promenade overlooking the golden sands of Viking Bay.

Throughout the Festival you will see and smell and hear the sea as well as all the yummy food on offer. The fresh sea air might help give you a good appetite as you make your way round all the stalls. Be ready to eat for England, Kent and where ever else you may have come from, you are in for some tasty treats for sure!

Festival overview

This Autumn the organisers have promised more than 100 food stalls, featuring mostly regional produce from across Kent and the South East of England with much of it from the immediate local area. The Festival also offers some exciting international fare from the continent and beyond.

The Chef’s Theatre, sponsored by the Taste of Game Association, will have tasting workshops and cooking demonstrations with a particular focus on some of our finest local chefs.

Refreshment areas will include the Cider House and a Vintage Tea Parlour by Broadstairs charming Bessie’s Tea Parlour. Bessies won the 2017 Kent Food Producer of the Year Taste of Kent award .

Children are also well catered for with food related activities like simple cooking and cake decorating workshops specially provided for young Festival visitors.

There’s easily enough for you to see and eat if you choose to visit the Festival on all three days.

Bring your cash, leave the dog at home!

Entrance is free and there are lots of free samples from many of the stall holders but be warned, once you’ve sampled that nibble of delicious Kentish cheese, chutney, chocolate or whatever it is that is enticingly offered as you browse, you’ll probably find you’ll want to buy some of it.

Not everyone is able to accept payment by card so do bring a few quid to be able to indulge yourself.

In case you were thinking of it – don’t bring the dog. Furry friends are not allowed on the Festival site as it can get pretty busy.

Chef’s Theatre

We’ve had advance notice of some of the chefs who will be on the stage at the Chef’s Theatre. The full list of chefs and demonstration timings will be published on the Festival website later this month.

Richard Hunt debuted in the theatre last year and was hugely popular, being highly entertaining and knowledgeable. He is a Master Baker and also MD of Devon Scone Co and executive chef to the Taste of Game Association. Catch him demonstrating dishes made with with local Kentish game.
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Local favourites not to miss in the Theatre include: Yarrow Hotel Broadstairs’ head chef Ben Williams; Ian Mather of the Empire Rooms in Ramsgate; representatives from Quex Barn in Birchington and exciting newcomer to the Broadstairs foodies scene; Ben Crittenden of Stark in Broadstairs (previously head chef at the Westhouse, Michelin starred restaurant in Biddenden). Ben has had incredible reviews since opening earlier this year (including from Marina O’Loughlin in the Guardian). To dine at Stark you now need to book well in advance so it’s pretty special to have the opportunity to watch this massively talented chef cook at a free event.
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Cookery book writers Lucy Cuflin,the kitchen shortcut queen and Catherine Phipps, pressure cooker proponent, will also demonstrate recipes from their books, signed copies of which will be for sale all over the weekend.

Broadstairs food festival Related events

As well as the main Festival itself there is a packed programme of related events. Book these in advance as they are all likely to fill up. See the Festival website to find out about all the different events, prices and how to book. We share details of just three of them below:

Cheese & Wine Master Class
Fri 29 September 2017 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Chefs Theatre, Food Festival Site

Cheesemakers of Canterbury and Kingcott Dairy, along with Biddenden’s Vineyard, are hosting a cheese and wine master class. More than your usual cheese and wine event! Sample three wines, a cider and an apple juice alongside five fabulous Kent cheeses. The goal is to make your mind up which you think make the best match. Tantalise your tastebuds.

Taste of Kent​
Tue 19 September 2017 7:00 for 7.30 pm
Yarrow Hotel, Ramsgate Road, Broadstairs

The Festival’s Taste of Kent supper in the smart Yarrow Hotel in Broadstairs will be an elegant evening featuring a five-course tasting menu, using the best of local produce devised and delivered by head chef Ben Williams and his talented team. Kent wines, beers and spirits will be available at the bar.

​Dress to Impress – Gin Workshop​
Sat 30 September 2017 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Chefs Theatre, Food Festival Site

Gin is very much the spirit of the moment. Broadstairs shop, The Offy, has more than 50 varieties and owner, Julie Harmer, is a gin expert. Let Julie guide you, whether you usually like your gin shaken or stirred, or you’re not too sure what you like best. Each gin has their own unique way they can be served. Julie will help you identify the different aromas of each gin and suggest how you can dress your drink to really zing the flavour!

see you at broadstairs food festivaL?

We hope you can make it to Broadstairs for the Food Festival this Autumn. It’s such a lovely event and we are so proud of all the local producers showcased throughout the weekend. Use the form on our home page to check the availability of our comfortable Broadstairs holiday lets if you want to stay in the area.  The well equipped kitchens in all of our properties mean you can really enjoy cooking some of the local produce that will be available to buy all weekend and you will be close to all the action for the daytime and evening programmes.

Share your Broadstairs Food Festival pictures with us on our Facebook page – we’d love to see them!