The team behind the popular Stone Food & Drink Festival has just released a packed programme to celebrate the event’s return to Westbridge Park on the 5th, 6th & 7th July 2024.
Sponsored by Stone-based Drac Group, the event is in its 19th year and offers a great mix of shopping, learning through cookery demonstrations and talks plus entertainment in the form of great live music and family-friendly activities. There’s also a great range of street food on offer while licensed bars and pop-ups sell everything from real ale and ciders through to fizz and cocktails.
The shopping village will bustle with traders from across the country selling everything from cheese and cured meats to delicious cakes and bakes, artisan distilled spirits and hand-picked kitchen and homeware.
This year’s demonstration kitchen once again sees live cookery demonstrations on the hour, every hour from top local chefs. The lineup this year includes Feasted’s Cris Cohen – who you may recently have seen cooking up a storm on TV with Andi Oliver, Jake Lowndes who heads up Little Seeds, Stone’s only Michelin-guide listed restaurant, and Staffordshire born-and-bred Masterchef 2024 Quarter Finalist Steve Deakin. Other chefs on the bill include Allan Jones from A la Carte at Home; James Cracknell from The Moat House – soon to feature on the new Channel 5 documentary ‘The Motorway Hotel’; Victor Wiga Wagaa from Wiga Wagaa sauces; Stuart Bruce from The Woodland restaurant at Chase Golf & Country Club; Ben Manifold and Lee Lawson from No.26, Aston Marina; Adam Smith from the Dog & Doublet; Andrew Watts from The Tawny and Stone-based Ukrainian chef, Oksana Harris.
The Talks & Tastings Tent, meanwhile, will see passionate producers showcase their wares with topics covering everything from pickling tips through to tastings of real ales, gins and fine wines.
Live Music will once again be a big part of the event, which is well known for its party atmosphere. The lineup this year, kindly sponsored by Joule’s Brewery, includes Kenyon Walker; Fool’s Life; students from Stone’s Rooftop Studios; Ellie & the Giants; Rock Choir; Legends of Sound; Bella; Sack & Craic and The Kilns.
Families with children will also find plenty to keep them entertained, thanks to free circus skills workshops and performances, a ‘Children’s Farm’ where kids can learn about farming and where their food comes from thanks to the team from PLAY@ Lower Drayton Farm plus pay as you go face painting and fairground rides.
Festival director, Richard Stevens, says:
“Following our enforced move while development work was underway at the park last year, we can’t wait to return to Westbridge Park, which is our spiritual home! The event has always been about the town and bringing visitors in to support local businesses, so to once again be within strolling distance of the High Street is fantastic.
“We’ve got a great programme in store with plenty to see and do so why not come down and join us for a foodie party in the park?”
The Stone Food & Drink Festival will take place on Westbridge Park on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July 2024. There is also a host of events, special offers and activities happening in and around town throughout festival week organised by local businesses as they get into the festival spirit. Tickets to Westbridge Park are £12pp per day (accompanied under 16s free) with early bird advance discounts for tickets purchased by 30th June plus two day and three-day passes available. The ticket price is inclusive and offers access to all cookery demonstrations, talks, tastings and live music performances.
For more information on the event, including the full programme, head to www.stonefooddrink.org.uk
