New concepts continue to ‘pop
W
ith the ninth annual Stone Food and Drink
Festival almost upon us, taking place on
Friday 4th, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th
October, foodies from far and wide can
look forward to a packed programme of events
lined up including some very special new
additions.
Following last year’s record crowds, the main
festival site at Westbridge Park will be bigger this
year. Alongside old favourites like the
Demonstration Kitchen, Gourmet Marquee, Beer
Festival and Talks and Tastings Tent, for the first
time ever there will be a ‘Pop-Up’ restaurant and
piano bar on site - offering formal dining alongside
fine wines and cocktails in elegant surroundings.
There will also be a celebration of our very own
local delicacy, the Staffordshire Oatcake,
throughout the event.
Once again, the festival is about more than the
‘big weekend’ on Westbridge Park – pubs,
restaurants and businesses throughout town will
be running special events and deals during festival
week, and the Farmers’ Market on Friday and
Saturday will ensure the High Street is buzzing.
The now renowned Stone Food and Drink
Festival was founded back in 2004 with the first
festival taking place the following year, in 2005.
The idea behind it was to bring the community
together to celebrate the very best of local produce.
Over the years, the festival has gone from
18 October/November 2013
strength to strength - attracting some 19,000
visitors to the town during festival week in 2012 and is attended by leading businesses, pubs and
producers from across the county and beyond who
now recognise the festival as an excellent platform
to promote their food and drink.
In 2009, the food festival won funding from
‘Taste of Staffordshire’ which allowed additional
investment into events and demonstrations and
has helped to ensure the festival gets bigger and
better year on year. This year the theme of the
festival will remain ‘The very best of Staffordshire’
to help promote the county and its food, and in
recognition of the ongoing support of Taste of
Staffordshire.
The 2013 festival, which will take place from
Friday 4th October through to Sunday 6th
October, promises to be the biggest and best yet,
with original events such as the ‘real ale trail’,
'manger a trois', farmers’ market and chef
demonstrations still taking place in addition to a
host of exciting new features.
The biggest new feature to be added onto the
line-up will be the chance to enjoy fine dining ‘in
the field’ at 2013’s festival.
A new ‘Pop-up’ restaurant and bar on the main
Westbridge Park site will offer visitors to this year’s
Stone Food and Drink Festival the chance to wine
and dine in style. And the concept is proving so
popular that the exclusive venue is already fully