Delicious Food And Drink Festivals In The UK This Summer

Summer is finally on its way in the UK so it’s time to get outside and enjoy the offerings laid on at the many food and drink festivals around the country. From tastes of Asia to a Scandinavian supper, there’s more than pie and mash available in the UK this summer.

Emirates Go East Festival

The Emirates will be bringing melting pot of flavours and cultures from the East this summer during the Go East Festival. Celebrating the vibrant and diverse cuisine on offer, the Go East Festival will visit London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle with street food dishes like sweet and spicy burgers from Malaysia, Vietnamese baguettes, roti dishes from Sri Lanka and Chinese sorbets. Local vendors in each city will be showing off their heritage to locals, inviting them to taste an array of dishes that are appealing to all of the senses. Entry to the festival is free, and opens 12pm-10pm on Saturday and 12pm – 8pm on Sunday.
Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June – Goods Yard, Old Granada Studios, Manchester
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June – Doon Street Car Park, Southbank, London
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June – Candleriggs Square, Glasgow
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June – Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne
Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July – Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham

Scottish Juniper Festival

Celebrating World Gin Day 2015, the Scottish Juniper Festival returns to Edinburgh on 12th – 14th June. A mecca for anyone partial to the spirit, a whole host of brands will arrive at Summerhall including No.3 Gin, Pickering’s, Darnley’s View & Spiced Gins, Rock Rose Gin, Portobello Gin and Ish Gin. There will be talks and discussions including Cocktails with Mike McGinty & Tonic Masters with 56 North, a courtyard G&T bar, a gin shop, local fashion boutiques and crafts, and tours of the Pickering’s gin distillery at Summerhall. Tickets to the festival are £21.50pp.
12th – 14th June – Summerhall, Edinburgh
www.facebook.com/ScottishJuniperFestival

Scandinavian Midsummer Feast

Making its debut at Harptree Court in Somerset this year, Scandinavian Midsummer Feast will showcase food and drink from Sweden, Norway and Denmark on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June. Acclaimed chefs and food writers will embark on the grounds including Trine Hahnemann, Niklas Ekstedt, Valentine Warner, Joe Wadsack and Ole-Martin Hansen, to provide experiences and discussions of Scandinavian cuisine. The weekend begins with a cocktail reception at 11.30am on Sunday, followed by the midsummer feast on Saturday evening with Hahnemann’s piece de resistance of whole roasted lamb. The weekend also features tutorials, floral displays, live music, masterclasses, baking, dancing and a bonfire. Tickets for this weekend extravaganza are £200pp, including the feast, drinks and camping in the Harptree Court grounds, or local accommodation can be found nearby.
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June – Harptree Court, Somerset
www.scandifeast.co.uk

Kopparberg Urban Forest

Cider lovers will be rejoicing at the news that the Kopparberg Urban Forest is returning to London from 10th June – 12th July. Over an entire month of Mixed Fruits, Strawberry & Lime and the modest Pear, Hackney Wick will be turned into a Swedish pine forest with a host of musical acts to boot. Last year’s debut saw Kelis, Little Dragon and New Young Pony Club take to the stage, so this year is destined to be just as great. Completely free to enter, there will also be frozen cider, cocktails, beer and eat-with-fingers food to kick off the summer in style.
10th June – 12th July – 37 – 41 Whitepost Lane, Hackney Wick
kopparbergurbanforest.com