mendip food and drink festival

Please keep checking this page for further events. For information on each of the participating venues, please see their details on the ‘participants’ page.

We advise that you double check with the venue directly before visiting to confirm any booking arrangements, opening times, availability of tastings and special menus etc.

Food Tastings at Jon Thorner’s
11-3pm. Samples available from The Bay Tree, Somerset Cider Brandy, Olive Farm and Brittens Potatoes. All children will receive a Jon Thorner’s sticker and fridge magnet.
Jon Thorner's, Bridge Farm Shop, Pylle, Tel 01749 830138

Wells Safari Supper Evening
Starts 6.30pm at Andre’s for starter, The Crown for main course and The Swan for pudding. Tickets £25 per person, Limited places. Includes a course and a drink at each venue. Bookings available from The Swan, Tel 01749 83630

Mendip Musical Menu at The George Inn, Croscombe
Join us for Jazz at the George and a special Mendip dinner menu. Three courses and coffee for £19.95, and a chance to relax to sounds of the Roger Bond Quartet - not to be missed, so book early! The George Inn, 01749 342306

Sausage Making Demonstrations at Jon Thorner's
Series of sausage making demonstrations at 12, 2 and 4pm. All children will receive a Jon Thorner’s sticker and fridge magnet. Jon Thorner's, Bridge Farm Shop, Pylle, Tel 01749 830138

Food Tastings at Jon Thorner's
Tastings between 11 - 3pm. Lovingtons, James Chocolates, Brown Cow Organics & Pennard Organic Wines. All tastings are from suppliers who live within 10 miles of Jon Thorner’s shop in Pylle. Jon Thorner's, Bridge Farm Shop, Pylle, Tel 01749 830138

Glastonbury Transition Town Open Space: Future Food For Thought
Tor Leisure Centre, Street Road, Glastonbury BA6 9EF
2pm - 6pm, This event will bring together anyone with an interest in food - consumers, gardeners, allotmenteers, farmers, distributors, retailers, caterers and hospitality providers - to
discuss the unpredictable ways in which climate change and decline of cheap fossil fuel will affect food supplies in the future. The event is organised by Transition Glastonbury, a new and active community group, and sponsored by Somerset Organic Link. All Welcome.
See www.transitiontowns.org/Glastonbury for further details. Somerset Organic Link is an
award-winning farmer-owned company set up by organic vegetable growers in Somerset
in 2001. SOL is committed to supplying local food to local people and to the economic, social and environmental benefits that result from local production and trading systems.
Somerset Organic Link, Tel 01458 224618

Traditional Somerset Cider Making
2-5pm. A traditional Somerset Cider Making demonstration at Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury. Milling and pressing apples from the museum orchard in the medieval Abbey Barn; Display of Somerset cider apples varieties; Tea room selling home-made cakes and Somerset Apple Cake. Abbey Farm, Glastonbury, Tel 01458 831197

Classic Car Rally at The George Inn, Croscombe
The George Inn’s annual Festival Classic Car Run - Call at The George for details of this great day out. The George Inn, Tel 01749 342306

Mendip Sunday Lunch at The George Inn, Croscombe
Sunday Lunch at The George is a very popular regular feature. All local meats and generous helpings, just £11.95 for two courses. Book your table to avoid disappointment!
The George Inn, 01749 342306

Traditional Somerset Cider Making
2-5pm. Traditional Somerset Cider Making at Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury. Milling and pressing apples from the museum orchard in the medieval Abbey Barn; Display of Somerset cider apples varieties; Tea room selling home-made cakes and Somerset Apple Cake.
Abbey Farm, Glastonbury, Tel 01458 831197

Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury
2-5pm, Commentary on Orchard Management and Cider Making by Les Davies CBE Mendip Hills Warden. Abbey Farm, Glastonbury, Tel 01458 831197

Gert Posh Tea at Farrington’s
Tea at Farrington’s, 4pm, Tickets £9.95. Farrington’s Farm Shop, Farrington Gurney, Tel 01761 451698

Food and Drink Quiz at The George Inn, Croscombe
A great night out and a chance to use your brain power as well! As always teams are of four people, so enter your team now. Only £10 per team includes a Mendip cheese plate. First prize is a Jon Thorner’s Christmas Hamper! To enter and enjoy a great evening you must pre-book your team at The George Inn, 01749 342306

Business Breakfast at Farrington’s
7-9am in the Marquee. Make the most of an early morning business meeting with a deluxe Business Breakfast featuring locally produced ingredients. Guest Speaker David Harvey from the BBC. Tickets £9.95 - to book call Farrington's on 01761 451698

Mendip Games Night at The George Inn, Croscombe
Come along to play traditional pub games, enjoying our beer festival at the same time! Enter a team of four into our round robin of traditional games like skittles, darts, cribbage, dominoes and shove ha’penny to see who’s the best at local games! £10 per team includes a ploughman’s, with Thatcher’s cider as a prize to the best team. Pre-book your team at The George Inn, Tel 01749 34230

Farrington’s Kids Activities in the marquee
10am-12noon. A wide range of fun activities including trailer rides, apple bobbing, card making, cake decoration, chocolate fountain and vegetable games. Tickets are £5 on the day. Farrington’s Farm Shop, Farrington Gurney, Tel 01761 451698

Cider Mill Tour at Gaymers, Shepton Mallet
Gaymers Cider Company will once again be inviting visitors on a special tour of the cider factory. The tour will begin at 2pm in the Cider House with refreshments and an introductory talk. Visitors will then be taken on a site tour, where they will see the apple processing, production and bottling facilities, before afternoon tea in the Cider House and a tasting of the end product! Visitor numbers are limited to 25 and all must be over the age of 18 years. No group bookings please. Please book by calling the Gaymer Cider Company, Shepton Mallet, Tel 01749 334000

Mendip Moments - Food Sampling at Sagebury Cheese, Frome
Mendip Moments Ice-Cream tasting (Gold Medal winners at the Bath & West and Taste of the West). Tel 01749 679400 or 01373 462 543, Sampling at Sagebury Cheese, 21 Cheap Street, Frome.

Festival Dinner at Farrington’s Farm Shop
A dinner party will be held at Farrington’s Café, hosted and prepared by Michael Parke, head chef at nearby Ston Easton Park. A drinks reception with canapés will be held on arrival followed by a three course dinner, including a glass of wine and coffee. The menu features only local produce from some of the finest suppliers in the area. Tickets are £25 per head and are limited to 60 - so book early to avoid disappointment, by calling Farrington’s on 01761 451698

Mendip Chocolate Night at The George Inn, Croscombe
Join us and Dean Sweet, owner of the Cheddar Chocolate Company, while we educate our taste buds as well as your minds, with a chocolate menu and tutored tasting! A delicious two course meal ending with our own homemade chocolate puddings, and then coffee with Dean’s tutored tasting. Just £14.95. Bookings required. The George Inn, Tel 01749 342306.

The Shepton Mallet ‘Food Crawl’
6-10pm, As part of the Mendip Food and Drink Festival, Shepton Mallet is holding a food crawl to celebrate the best of food on offer in the town centre. This innovative and sociable gastronomic extravaganza will spread across eight locations:
• The Foyer at The Academy Jazz piano and bar
• Lisboa Portuguese Cafe Tastes of Portugal
• Peppers Deli and Cafe Soup, Ramekins and Terrine
• Choccis Chocolataire Chocolates and more!
• Chats Cafe Delicate Desserts
• Delicious Delicatessen Sausages, cheeses, quiches
• Denela’s Coffee Lounge - Fresh from the Bakery
• Stumbles Inn - Local brews, ciders and juice
From the social hub at The Academy you will be free to indulge your gluttony in any order you like. Price £14 per head. Tickets available from the participating venues and Shepton Mallet TIC 01749 345258. Why not get a small group together and have a truly memorable evening?!

Tasting Day at Farrington’s
10am-4pm in the marquee, A FREE opportunity to taste new products from Farrington’s and numerous local suppliers. Farrington's Farm Shop, Farrington Gurney. Tel: 01761 451698

Mendip Moments Food Sampling
Tel 01749 679 400, Sampling at Farringtons Farm Shop.

Kids Cookery School at Charlton House
10.30am - 12.30pm for 5-14yrs £20 per child. Think you’ve got a budding chef in your child? Suki Addingtons Kids Hallowe’en Cookery School at Charlton House will feed their imagination using healthy, seasonal local produce. Shepton Mallet. Tel 01749 342008

Tincknell Country Store
11am Rayburn cookery demonstration with David Peneelly using local fresh produce. To book call 0845 230 0987; tickets £15. 1pm onwards - Rayburn open day. Talk to the experts, see how to get the best from your cooker, try local produce. Open to everyone. Glastonbury Road, Wells, Tel 01749 683150

Food Business Networking Social Farrington’s Farm Shop, Farrington Gurney
6.30 - 9.30pm Sponsors Old Mill Accountancy LLP, Andy and Tish of Farrington’s and Gaymer’s Cider are hosting a free event for all involved in the local Food Business, suppliers and participants in the Festival. Booking essential, please phone Alan Stone at Old Mill 01749 335007 email alan.stone@oldmillgroup.co.uk

Frome Safari Supper Evening
Starts 7pm at La Strada for starter, The Olde Bath Arms for main course, Bar 11 for pudding. Tickets £25 per person - places limited. Includes a course and a drink at each venue. Bookings available from Bar 11, Tel 01373 469913

Mendip Curry Night at The George Inn, Croscombe
An enduring regular event on the last Thursday of every month, join us at 8pm for five delicious curries served buffet style. Booking in advance is required, great value at £10.95.
The George Inn, 01749 342306

Gardeners Dinner at Ston Easton Park Hotel
At Ston Easton Park, much of the organic produce used by their chefs travels no further than their gardeners pushing it in the wheelbarrow from the Victorian kitchen garden to the kitchen door. In celebration of the Mendip Food and Drink Festival Head Chef Michael Parke and Head Gardener Dorian Poole have worked together to create an outstanding menu of the finest home grown produce.

Join us for a welcome drinks reception and a brief talk on the gardens here at Ston Easton Park before sitting down to our 6 course celebratory menu. Each course will be accompanied by an interesting wine selected for us by Willie Lebus of Bibendum and Willie will be joining us to introduce each wine in his own informative but entertaining style.

Head Gardener, Dorian Poole and Head Chef, Michael Parke will be on hand throughout the evening to answer any of your questions. £65 per person to include welcome drinks, a six course menu and accompanying wines. For bookings contact Ston Easton Park on Tel 01761 241631

Sagebury Cheese - Tastings
Bay Tree Foods - Product tasting with local sausages.
21 Cheap Street, Frome, Tel 01373 462543

Mendip Artists’ Night at The George Inn, Croscombe
Four Mendip artists will be presenting their new works, highlighted by a new exhibition of paintings by Jill Parkinson. Why not join us for a glass of wine 6-7pm and meet Jill herself. There will be 10% off all art purchases on opening night, and you can enjoy a pleasant meal in lovely surroundings afterwards! The George Inn, 01749 342306

Frome Farmers’ Market Extravaganza
9am-1pm , Cheese and Grain Building, Frome Local food café, Trace the Product to the Producer Display. Activities for the children. For further information contact Somerset Food Links on Tel 01458 241 401

Glastonbury Farmers Market
St Johns Car Park 9am-1pm, Tel 01373 812757
www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk

Farrington’s Competition Day in the marquee
Entries from 10am. Classes: Pre-school, Infant, Junior & Open (12 +). Judging from 2pm, Prize-giving 3pm. Best edible cow-pat cake, Best veggie animals, best decorated animal-shaped biscuit, funniest/ ugliest fruit or veg. Final of the Painting competition (see Local Press).
Farrington’s Farm Shop, Farrington Gurney, Tel 01761 451698

The Cheap Street Food Fair, Frome
Food Traders in Cheap Street put on their show and activities from 2pm.
Sagebury Cheese
Local, season produce to taste, buy and get involved in!
Tel 01373 462542

Café La Strada
Selling newly names ‘SENSO’ ice cream. Made on the premises from organic milk and cream from a local Jersey herd and still Italian style with over 150 flavours (not available at the same time). Tel 01373 474374

Frome Wholefoods
Apple juice making and tastings from Hobbs House bakery.
Tel 01373 473 334

The Old Bakehouse
Will feature bread baking and cake decorating demonstrations, gluten free products. Tastings available. Tel 01373 455456

Special Lunch at La Lune Ltd
A lunch made from fresh local produce with an Astrology themed event throughout the day.
22 High Street, Glastonbury, Tel 01458 832284

Mendip Wine & Dine at The George Inn, Croscombe
Dine at The George on Saturday with a special Mendip menu and a local Mendip bottle from our wine suppliers. 3-courses and a bottle of wine per two persons only £25pp.
Book your table by calling The George on 01749 342306

Organic Experience at Farrington’s
10am-2pm. Free trailer rides and conducted tours of the organic vegetable fields.
Farrington’s Farm Shop, Farrington Gurney, Tel 01761 451698

Organic Sunday Lunch at Farrington’s
11.30-2.30pm in the café. Farrington’s Farm Shop, Farrington Gurney, Tel 01761 451698

Mendip Beer Festival and Treasure Hunt at The George Inn, Croscombe
Come to The George’s ninth Beer Festival, featuring 10 breweries from around the Mendips! Visit the George to pick up your Mendip Beer Treasure Hunt Form. Collect your stamps for drinking different beers from each brewery, and win prizes! Be here, collect the form, and make sure you are back in The George by the end of the Festival with all your stamps in place in order to collect a special festival t-shirt from the Landlord! Tel 01749 342306

White Row Country Foods & Café, Beckington
Throughout the Festival our Farm Shop will sell local, seasonal, vegetables and salads, several variety of potatoes, home-reared pork and home produced free range eggs, together with a large selection of local produce which include wines, ciders, bakery, dairy and much more. The Café prepares and serves menus using our own local produce. Each day there will be a different taster with a special menu in our café. White Row Farm, Beckington. Contact Heather Tucker on Tel 01373 830241

Best Western Swan Hotel, Wells
AA Rosette. Open to non-residents for morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Head Chef, Paul Mingo-West creates a combination of modern and traditional British dishes with occasional European influences. He uses only the finest ingredients, local whenever possible. The magnificent oak panelled restaurant seats up to 60 guests whilst the beautiful
surroundings of the Walled Garden and Garden Room are open for alfresco dining during the Summer months. We will be cooking up a very special Festival menu every day throughout the Mendip Food Festival. Best Western Swan Hotel, Sadler Street, Wells, Tel 01749 836300

The Old Bath Arms, Frome
Superb food day and night! Diners can enjoy Anglo-Mediterranean - inspired cuisine from Chef Jean-Pierre, all made with local produce. Afterwards relax in the comfort of the new lounge Piano Bar. The Old Bath Arms, 1 Palmer Street, Frome. Tel 01373 465045

Glastonbury Abbey Estate
Visit the Abbots Kitchen to hear about food and drink in medieval times. Performances daily at 10am, 12noon and 2pm; and at midday perhaps even get to sample the monks medieval fayre! Abbey Gatehouse, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury, Tel 01458 832267

Caro’s Cafe & Deli, Midsomer Norton
2 course meal and a drink for £10 per head. 98 High Street, Midsomer Norton, Tel 01749 675827

Mocha Berry Café, Glastonbury
Special menu items throughout the Festival. 14 Market Place, Glastonbury, Tel 01458 832149

Sagebury Cheese - Tastings, Frome
Cheese tastings each day. 21 Cheap Street, Frome, Tel 01373 462543

Charlton House, Shepton Mallet
During the Mendip Food & Drink Festival, Elisha Carter will be producing an exclusive Sharpham Park 2 course lunch for £22 per person. Book early to secure your table. Sorry not available on Sunday 21st and 28th October. Shepton Mallet,
Tel 01749 342008

Tastings at Earthfare - The Wholefood Grocer, Glastonbury
Friday, Saturday and Sunday tastings and offers in store. Contact the store for details. 29 High Street, Glastonbury, Tel 01458 831004

Hawthorns Hotel, Glastonbury
Special festival menu throughout the week. 8 Northload Street, Glastonbury, Tel 01458 831255

Stephens Butchers, Glastonbury
Tastings in store throughout the Festival week. 2 Market Place, Glastonbury, Tel 01458 832091