Ludlow gears up for its most ambitious Food Festival yet (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Ludlow gears up for its most ambitious Food Festival yet

11:35am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News By Adrian Kibbler

LUDLOW is buzzing in anticipation of its busiest weekend of the year featuring the most ambitious Food Festival since the event started in 1995.

It’s hoped the festival, staged in the castle grounds and at venues around the town centre, will be the best yet, bringing more than 20,000 visitors into the town.

Favourite attractions will be there and the emphasis remains on local food and drink, but there is also a more international flavour this year.

There is a session dedicated to Burgundy and its iconic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wine grapes. There will also be a comparison of the wines of the old world France, Italy and Spain with those from the new world such as Australia, New Zealand and Chile.

And there will be an Italian food demonstration as well as a Malaysian cookery school, together with an event called A Taste of Persia, with Dr Lal Haider a finalist in the UK South Asian Chef of the Year competition in 2011.

Meanwhile the best local food and drink will be showcased with 160 different stands.

Old favourites that have become a staple of the three day event that starts tomorrow, Friday, are the sausage and ale trail as well as the Loaf Festival.

There will be pudding and chocolate tasting together with a demonstration on the theme of Preserving our Heritage: Modern Ways with Old Techniques, which looks and the making of jam and preserves.

Top chefs will demonstrate their talents as will Dudley Martin the award- winning head cheese maker at LudlowFood Centre.

There will be a cook off between Michelin Star chef Chris Bradley from Mr Underhills and Food writer Andy Richardson.

And Rose Prince will demonstrate baking recipes featured in her Telegraph Baking Club column.

There are also tours of Ludlow Brewery and a session led by Nick Davis from Hobsons Brewery and hop grower Jeff Thompson from Eardiston. They will allow people to taste different hops and offer tips on matching food with ales.

Displays include knife cutting and apple pressing, whilst a foraging walk will show the variety of different foods that can be found in the hedgerows in and around Ludlow.

Ludlow Assembly Rooms will stage a food-based book festival and photography exhibition.

Friday sees the annual young chef awards.

•  Talks, demonstrations and debates are included in the ticket price – £8.50 for adults and from £2 for children aged five to 13.

For more information visit foodfestival.co.ukEXTRA buses are being provided by Shropshire Council for the festival.

It has arranged for two extra buses to run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (September 7, 8 and 9), providing a park and ride service every 15 minutes to the town centre.

These buses from the Eco Park will be in addition to the regular park and ride service from Henley Hall which is being provided by festival organisers.

Marshalling will be provided to make sure that people get the right bus and it is hoped that extra services will prevent queues.

Tickets will be the same as the food festival operated services: adults £1 and children 50p (concessionary passes will not be applicable).

• The additional buses run as follows: Friday 8am to 6pm; Saturday 8am to 7pm; Sunday 9.30am to 6pm.