Ashfield Food and Drink Festival 2024 – this weekend

One of the most anticipated events of the year, Ashfield Food and Drink Festival, sponsored by Hucknall Specsavers, is back in Hucknall this weekend, on Sunday 18 August 2024.

Hucknall High Street will, once again, play host to Ashfield District Council’s annual food and drink festival offering a day of smells, sounds, and tastes from across the globe. With produce, street food, cheeses, baked goods, beers, rum, cider, and kitchen gifts, there’s something to whet everyone’s appetite.

This year, in addition to the incredible food and drink selection, visitors will be treated to live music from Inspire’s Red Hot Band, and live cookery demonstrations by a healthy eating chef at 10.30am, 12pm, and 1.30pm.

New to the festival this year are:

• 4 Eyes Patisserie and Bakery – bringing artisan bread, cakes, and pastries
• Bigmelt – Fresh sourdough cheese toasties with assorted dressings. Gluten free and vegan options
• Casa Gomez – offering Chorizos, Spanish sauces, pisto, brava & chorizo paste
• Chocolate Orange Limited – Scones, traybakes, sausage rolls, cheese straws. Gluten free and vegan options
• Craving Crust – Stonebaked pizzas, mozzarella bites, chicken balls, onion rings, waffle fries
• M Starkey Workshop – Wooden chopping boards, serving boards, tankards, goblets, shot cups, pestle & mortar, and kitchen accessories
• Riveria Iced Tea Ltd – Natural canned iced tea available in three flavours, all vegan, low calorie and gluten free
• Rupert Mole – Bringing a Belgian chocolate fountain covered fruits and confectionary in cups and skewers
• The Sacred Ape – Locally distilled spiced rum in individual bottles.

There’s a huge variety of stalls on offer this year, with something to suit everyone’s tastes whether it’s spicy curries from Shola and Spice, authentic German bratwurst, currywurst, and pomme frites from The Sizzling Kitchen, De One Kitchen will be bringing Nigerian meat and chicken pies, Puff puff, jollof rice and more Nigerian flavours, or Scandinavian pies, potato cakes and desserts from Breeosh – The Scandanavian Bakery.

Heart of Scilly are back at the festival bringing their flavours of Scilly with Arancini, Cannoli, Tiramisu, as are Back-a-Yard cuisine with their jerk chicken, rice and peas, and curried mutton. Also returning this year are the unique flavoured sausage rolls, quiches, tarts, and vegan savouries from Arlo’s Bakehouse. 

Cheese-lovers will be bree-ly happy with the offerings from Mouse House Cheese and Spicee who will both be stocked up with flavoured cheeses. Fig Tree will be returning to the festival with their jams, marmalades, honey, and crackers that are a perfect match for any cheesy purchases.

For craft ale and beer lovers there’s bottled and canned beers by Hucknall’s own Lincoln Green Brewing Company. Hucknall’s Torkard Cider will be back showcasing their small batch cider.

Those with a sweet tooth will be in heaven with a range of sweet treats on offer including innovative mochi donuts from Nottingham-based Wawoo Mochi Donuts, patisserie style bakes from the Sinfully Sweet Pastry Co, stuffed cookie cups from Outlaw Cookie Club, and Penny Lane Fudge’s gourmet fudge.

Cllr Lee Waters, Ward Councillor for Hucknall Central, said:

“Ashfield Food and Drink Festival has grown to be one of our residents’ firm favourite events. We are extremely glad to bring this event back to Hucknall for the fifth event. Whether it’s returning traders such as Cook it Up and their refreshing handmade juices, Brockleby’s pies, or Samuels Catering’s hot pork cobs, there’s truly something for everyone.”

“This year’s festival line up is the biggest and most diverse yet so make sure you come down to Hucknall and support the traders. It’s set to be a beautiful day so make the most of it and head to the Food and Drink Festival.”