This year’s Wealden Food & Wine Festival was attended by nearly 7,000 people who enjoyed glorious summer weather to sample some of the finest local food and drink in the grounds of Pevensey Castle.—Wealden District Council, 29 Juy 2016
The Food and Wine Festival, which took place on 17 & 18 July, a month earlier than Wealden’s previous Food and Wine Festival attracted some 6,900, 1,500 more than the attendance at last year’s event.
The Festival was opened by the Chairman of Wealden District Council, Cllr Chris Hardy, who praised the range and quality of the local food, drink and products now available in the District and the surrounding area.
As well as cookery demonstrations by the Wealden-based 2006 MasterChef winner, Peter Bayless, local author Rob Silverstone and a wine making demonstration by The Bluebell Vineyard, there was also a number of historic re-enactments.
Living History turned the clock back with Anglo-Saxon craft workshops and a crowd-sourced recreation the Bayeux Tapestry. There was also a falconry display, guided history walks around Pevensey Castle and a visit from the Bexhill Classic Cycle Group. Blast Science brought everyone up to date with a hands-on science displays, and throughout both days there were the Festival’s ever-popular live music shows. These featured Swamptown, Pete Prescott’s Swingtime, The Violet Jive, Cocktail Safari, Pocketsize, Justin & the Argonauts, Helen Sharpe’s Soulshine Band, and The Rockitmen.
This year’s Festival earned a big thumbs up from the visitors themselves with over 70% classing it as “excellent” in feedback surveys.
The winner of the cream tea for two competition at the Priory Court Hotel was Walkiria Nubes, and the free English Heritage Membership draw was won by Barry Byers.
