Historic Royal Palace
BBC Good Food Festival returns to Hampton Court Palace
25/07/16 19:03 Filed in: What's On
The celebrated food festival returns to the palace’s formal gardens for three fabulous days this August Bank Holiday weekend
The BBC Good Food Festival is back for its third year, and will be held in the spectacular gardens of Hampton Court Palace.Hosted in partnership with independent charity Historic Royal Palaces, and set over the three days of the August Bank Holiday weekend, it offers a great selection of delicious artisan producers, a stellar line up of cooks and chefs, fabulous entertainment, family fun and great, live music.
Comprising over 100 hand-picked artisan producers and companies, with everything from oysters to sausages, and brownies to crepes, the Festival is guaranteed to delight even the most committed foodie. Look out for Lomito, serving Argentine rib-eye steak sandwiches, or Borough Market’s Jumi Cheese, offering a selection of the finest Swiss emmental. There’s even guilt-free ice-cream from Oppo - complete with a superfood boost - all set against a backdrop of one of Britain’s most historic buildings.
A highlight of the Festival will undoubtedly be the 300 seat Summer Kitchen Theatre, which will play host to some of the biggest names in food. Join Paul Hollywood, John Torode and double Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux Jr. as they whip up a selection of summer dishes live on stage. Meanwhile, over at the Interview Stage, food lovers will be able to discover the secrets of their favourite chefs’ success as they share top tips and tales from their life in the kitchen, before taking questions from the audience. There’ll even be the chance for visitors to get some of their favourite cookbooks signed, with Lisa Faulkner and Michel Roux Jr. among those already confirmed.
Across the weekend, a fantastic live music programme will provide the perfect summer soundtrack, with the sassy trio of singers The Polka Dots, jive group Cody and the Retro Boys and jazz band Doolally Tap all playing from the bandstand. With Hampton Court Palace deckchairs – each of which bears a character from the palace’s past – dotted around the garden, it’s the perfect place to soak up the Festival atmosphere. For families, live circus show performances, circus skills workshops, face painting and the new Gnome Zone - an opportunity for families to uncover some of the hidden stories of the palace’s celebrated gardens as told through a trail of decorated gnomes created by artists and local community groups – promise to keep everyone entertained.
As Hampton Court celebrates its world-famous gardens throughout 2016, visitors to the festival will be encouraged to explore the palace’s stunning surroundings, with the world’s oldest puzzle maze, the largest grapevine on the planet and a new play garden; the Magic Garden, waiting to be discovered. Inside the palace, there’s an exhibition of Georgian landscapes once owned by Empress Catherine the Great, while in the Tudor kitchens, Hampton Court’s team of historic chefs will be cooking up a storm, roasting meat on the great fire and creating a meal fit for a King!
Laura Biggs, Managing Director of River Street Events comments, “We are delighted to host the BBC Good Food Festival for the third time in the stunning grounds of Hampton Court Palace. The last two years have been an overwhelming success and we continue to get bigger and better with more exhibitors and more big names, all who will be cooking live in the Summer Kitchen.”
Paul Gray, Director of Hampton Court Palace said, “We’re thrilled to be welcoming the BBC Good Food Festival back to Hampton Court, a palace synonymous with food and feasting. We’re lucky enough to have not only the world’s largest grapevine but a working kitchen garden and even a rare surviving Tudor Kitchen, and the festival is a fantastic addition to these treasures – even if just for one weekend!”
Tickets, which include entry to both Hampton Court Palace and the BBC Good Food Festival, are on sale now at: www.bbcgoodfoodfestival.com