Great British Food Festival: Popular Leeds food festival to return to Harewood House this May - what to expect

With chef demonstrations and talks, delicious street food and live music alongside a dedicated kids’ stage, foraging walks and floristry masterclasses there is something for all tastes. There’s even a woof zone with activities for our four-legged friends.

A spokesperson said: "Located in the iconic grounds of Harewood House there will be entertainment in every corner.

"Street food vendors including Ey Up Thai will be serving up classic green curries, corn fritters and drunken noodles.

"There’s so much choice to tantalise your taste buds while relaxing and listening to live music."

The Artisan Market is a great way to discover new producers who can share the provenance of their food. West Yorkshire based cheesemongers Cryer and Stott are new this year and will be selling their repertoire of cheese.

Working with British producers they create some of their own recipes such as Rhuby Crumble a Wensleydale blended with Yorkshire forced rhubarb and a hint of vanilla.

With different stages around the site, the programme will see non-stop activity with opportunities for visitors to take part in the challenges – including Beat the Chef and the Cake Off.

Yorkshire-based Sandy Docherty, who spent time in the tent of the Great British Bake Off in 2015, will be live on the Headline stage.

Sandy is a safeguarding officer at a school in her home county, helping young people with emotional issues. She also runs a cookery club where she teaches children to bake on a budget. She is a strong advocate that cooking and baking are life skills.

Sandy said: “Food has become very expensive, and I like to show ways that you can still make something very special but really use the ingredients you have.

"It is about taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. You could make a casserole one night and then with what is left you can add pastry and you have a pie.

“At the Festival I will be hosting a cooking demonstration, and I will be showing you how to make two kinds of desserts – crepe suzette and a steamed sticky toffee pudding with a caramel sauce.

"Visitors will get the chance to taste them and ask questions. I’ll be showing people how they can adapt recipes, so you could change the crepe suzette into chocolate pancakes and add cherries and transform it.”

Qualified clinical nutritionist, Eva Humphries returns this year. Eva is committed to inspiring audiences to create meals from seasonal British produce, that are big on flavour. Eva brings years of experience and knowledge to the table and has an MSc in clinical nutrition.

She said: "Cookery demonstrations are such a great opportunity to pick up new skills and learn insider tips on making our food more delicious and nutritious. In my case, I help you make healthy food genuinely tasty.”

Visitors can take part in an introduction to foraging while exploring the magnificent estate at Harewood House.

Elliot Nicholls of Leeds- based Forage Against the Machine teaches participants how to identify dangerous species as well as those that are beneficial nutritionally, medicinally and in a culinary sense.

It’s about foraging sustainably and safely so as not to leave the countryside depleted. The woodland at Harewood House is a great location to get to know some key species.

Kadai Fire Bowls will be bringing the drama of the Fire Stage - hosted by Wayne of Daddy Bear Grills.

The smell of smoke and rich aromas from cooking over live fire are one not to be missed. Wayne will explain techniques, fire management, getting the best from your Kadai, and providing tasters.

The family behind the Great British Food Festival are celebrating, with over one million visitors to the festival over the last 16 years. The revamped line up means the festival is jam packed with entertainment.

Janine Maycock said: “Come for the food and stay for the fun, leave inspired. That is our message. Harewood House is such a wonderful setting. We really feel that this is the best way to get together with friends and family and have a wonderful day out this summer.

“With a huge range of bars and street food stalls selling a variety of delicious global dishes – it is a treat.

“We’ve revamped the stages this year, which means there will always be something on and there’s lots of interactive challenges like Beat the Chef. Don’t miss out.”

Overseeing the whole event will be host Chris Bavin. Chris is a cookbook author and has worked in the fresh produce industry for many years founding The Naked Grocer, one of the first no plastic retail businesses.

He will be familiar to visitors as he has spent many years presenting a variety of tv programmes including BBC’s Eat Well for Less and Best Home Cook.

Chris said: “I’m really looking forward to hosting the Great British Food Festival. There’s a lot going on so I’m going to be busy but meeting people and enjoying great food and drink in a beautiful setting, feels like an ideal way to spend the day.”

Live music will be performed throughout the weekend from a diverse range of artists including Gina Larner, Groovy Revolution and DRS. The event is dog friendly so there’s no need to rush back home.

The Great British Food Festival Harewood House, Leeds, May 23-25 from 10am-5pm. Tickets are available at https://greatbritishfoodfestival.com/tickets.php