Christchurch Food Festival 2020

By Marilyn Barber

August Bank Holiday weekend

The Christchurch Food Festival, scheduled to take place from 8-10 May, has been postponed until 29 to 31 August, the August Bank Holiday weekend, because of the constantly changing situation regarding Covid-19.

A spokesperson said, “Thanks to the support of BCP and Christchurch Town Council, we have secured the venue and have agreement for road closures for the new dates.

“From the Festival’s perspective, regardless of whether by then the government has ordered a ban on large gatherings (which in our view seems very likely), our feeling is that this would be a catastrophic time period to be trying to deliver a large scale public event, particularly with regard to the health of visitors, traders and our staff. “Our aim has always been to deliver an event that supports small independent businesses with the opportunity to enjoy fantastic trading conditions as well as creating an exciting experience for tens of thousands of visitors. We do not believe that the current dateline [May] will now offer this.

“We are obviously very sorry that we have had to take this decision and for the inconvenience it will cause. However, we passionately believe that this will provide the best outcome for the thousands of visitors, the traders and the sponsors who support the festival each year and that by the end of the summer things will be back to normal so we can all enjoy an outstanding and successful event for everyone.”

Read on to find out what is planned over the August Bank Holiday.

Festival plans

Throughout the festival the High Street will be loaded with stalls brimming with local produce and delicious street food – all the way down to the picturesque riverside setting of Christchurch Quay.

This year there will be even more food, drink and entertainment with demos showcasing the best local chefs alongside some of the biggest names in the UK, a Sheep Show and an entertainment stage dedicated to VE Day performances. The Red Devils Parachute Display Team will also be appearing.

One of the highlights of the festival is the Chef Demonstration theatre with some top local and national chefs sharing their culinary skills. They include Rosemary Shrager, James Golding, Alex Aitken, Max Lowery, Luke Matthews, Cyrus Todiwala and Colin Nash. As well as a fabulous line-up of food and drink, there will be some great entertainment to include war-themed revelry.

There will be music and dance with acts such as the talented Victory Sisters, focusing on strong vocals and brilliant harmonies to recreate the sights and sounds of a bygone era. Jitterbug Jive will wow with their routines and get everyone dancing.

Sheep Show

The Sheep Show brings live sheep to the festival with fun, educational and inspiring entertainment for all the family. Learn about different breeds, such as ‘Nobby’ the Norfolk Horn, and all their different attributes; watch a sheep shearing demo and learn how wool from a sheep’s back becomes a jumper; discover all the products that wool is used for (including lanolin, used in cosmetics and lip balm), and don’t miss your chance to see sheep dance ‘The Sheep Show Hustle’.

Doing their bit for the environment

The Christchurch Food Festival, which is organised by Real Food Festivals, recognises that major events such as this can have a huge impact on the local, regional and global environment, and they say their goal is to minimise this.

To that end, single use plastic drinks bottles will not be sold anywhere within the festival.

The company only allows compostable or reusable plates and cutlery, including drinking straws. All cutlery used by food stalls must be made from FSC-assured wood. Disposable singleserving sachets, like those used for sauces or sugar will not be available. Throughout the festival the organisers we will be providing reusable cups for alcoholic, non-alcoholic and hot drinks. You will need to pay a deposit which you get back when you return your cup, so that they can wash and reuse them.

They will ensure that much of the waste generated is recycled. Doing their bit for the environment

Getting there

The organisers do not recommend people driving to the festival as there is limited car parking. Yellow Buses have a number of routes into the town, and Wilts & Dorset run the X1 and X2. There are five trains an hour stopping at Christchurch Station, which is a 10-minute walk from the town centre.

The festival opens at 10am on all three days, closing at 8pm on the Friday and Saturday and at 5pm on the Sunday.

In addition to toilets in Saxon Square and on Christchurch Quay, there will be additional portaloos in the town centre. Tops Day Nursery, which is at Priory Hall, Princess Avenue, will be open over the festival weekend for baby changing and feeding.

Twenty per cent of the profits from the festival will go to the Christchurch Food Festival Education Trust, which offers education, training and guidance on healthy eating and on food preparation.

Much of the Trust’s work is undertaken all year round in partnership with local schools. The annual schools cookery days began in February and around 1,000 children took part. A cookery challenge for budding young chefs culminates at the Food Festival, where the ever-popular Kids’ Kitchen events take place.

Sponsors of this year’s Christchurch Food Festival are BCP Council, Dorset Food & Drink, Hampshire Fare, Harbour Hotels, Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa, Yellow Buses and Wave 105.2FM.