Food Festival Nottingham

- James Martin to launch food festival in Nottingham

Announcing the Nottingham Food and drink festival 2009:

Celebrity chefs James Martin, James Tanner, Brian Turner and Simon Rimmer are visiting Nottingham in September to take part in the city’s first Food and Drink Festival.  Funded by the Nottingham Leisure Partnership and supported by the City Council and the Greater Nottingham Partnership, the 5 day event will be held in the city centre’s Market Square from Wednesday 16th to Sunday 20th September.

The festival will play host to a chefs’ theatre in the Market Square in which the celebrity chefs and well-known local chefs from restaurants in Nottingham and personalities will entertain audiences with cookery demonstrations, challenges, classes and competitions.  There’ll be no entry charge for any of the activities in the chefs’ theatre and visitors will have the chance to meet the celebrity chefs face-to-face at book signing sessions.

James Martin will launch the event on Wednesday 16th, James Tanner is confirmed for Thursday 17th, Brian Turner for Friday 18th and Simon Rimmer for Saturday 19th September.

In and around the chefs theatre a regional speciality food and drink market with 30-35 stalls will give visitors the chance to taste and purchase speciality and local produce.  There’ll also be gourmet competitions and special food and drink events, such as gastronomic gallivants, in the city’s restaurants, bars and pubs, and complimentary booklets packed with special offers and discount vouchers for the city’s licensed venues will be handed out over the 5 days.

Pat Parkes of the Nottingham Leisure Partnership commented: “The Nottingham Food and Drink Festival is being launched to celebrate the high quality and culturally diverse food and drink available in the city.  With a wide range of fun activities for all ages from morning through to the evening, there’ll be something to suit everyone.  We’re all looking forward to making the event a huge success, and one which can be continued every year.”