June may mean the wind down of celebrations for the Guardian Hay Festival but for those who know and love Hay on Wye, Saturday 28th June will mark the seventh successful year of the Hay Food Festival.
From 10am onwards, over 40 local food producers will transform the Memorial Car Park in Hay into a dazzling al-fresco marketplace bursting with Welsh flavour. Celtic Spirit, Caroline’s Real Bread Company, the Welsh Venison Centre, Black Mountain Honey, Welsh Whiskey Company, Breconshire Brewery, the Pudding Shop from Ludlow, Ralph’s Cider, La Pasta di Mama – selling fresh pasta and sauces from Trecastle, Love Patisserie, Dore Valley Chocolates from Peterchurch, Neuadd Fach Baconery are all signed up to attend – including six award winners from the True Taste Awards, Wales annual food Oscars.
Enthusiast foodies can choose to sample a little bit of everything, or tuck into their favourite foods – and if eating proves to be thirsty work, there are plenty of cafes and bookstores around where they can take a break.
Throughout the day, there will be fantastic entertainment on offer with local school choirs, Aberhonddu Male Choir, Brecon Town Band and live folk music. Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority staff will also be on duty to hand out information about other exciting events taking place throughout the year.
Andrew Powell, Catering Manager for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority and organiser of the event said: “Eating, drinking and reading are just about the most enjoyable things you can do in your spare time. So it goes without saying that if you like good food, good company and a good book then this is the festival for you.
“This year is quite special because the food festival is proudly planning to go plastic bag free. At the moment, Hay is the only plastic bag free town in the National Park and we are encouraging visitors to bring their own bags to take away their goodies. The National Park stand will also be selling environmentally friendly cotton bags on the day.”
Mrs Mary Taylor, Chairman for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority said: “The commitment from our farmers and food suppliers to provide excellent quality, locally sourced produce is so encouraging that Hay Food Festival just goes from strength to strength each year.
“There are lots of reasons to buy local food wherever possible and we are really pleased that residents and visitors to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park are making concerned decisions about where their food is sourced.”
Other diary dates for food enthusiasts include the Bannau Brycheiniog Summer Fayre held during the August Bank Holiday weekend (23rd – 25th August) and the Bannau Brycheiniog Food Festival on 4th October held in the Brecon Market Hall and the town square– a must for all food lovers!