Loughborough Echo

New events lined up at Edible festival...

Vegan day is included for this year

- DAVID GODSALL david.godsall@reachplc.com

THE annual Edible Forest Festival returns next month to celebrate the best in local food and drink at unique and iconic settings around the ancient woodland of Charnwood Forest.

From September 7-15, there will be a range of tasty food and drink events including afternoon tea in the iconic Old John Tower in Bradgate Park, dining under the stars in one of our unique dining pods, Trappist Brewery Tours, Safari Supper around Charnwood’s finest eateries and another outstandin­g Secret Gourmet evening with Michelin star holder, Chef John Duffin.

New events at this year’s Edible Forest Festival include a cider tasting night, cheese pairing and a vegan day.

The Edible Forest festival was created by Leicesters­hire Promotions and is supported by Charnwood Borough Council and Everards.

Visitors can enjoy a gastronomi­c experience with a forest-inspired menu created by Michelin star holder, Chef John Duffin. The Secret Gourmet unique forest location will remain a secret until days before the event.

There will be a unique opportunit­y to take a tour of the UK’s only Trappist brewery at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey. You can discover the art of traditiona­l monastic brewing at one of only 12 Trappist breweries in the world. One of the monks will propose a guided tour of the plant, which is operated exclusivel­y by the community. The tour will end with a beer tasting.

One of the favourites of the festival is afternoon tea in the iconic Old John in Bradgate Park.

The unique dining pods make a welcome return to the festival for a second year. Set in ancient woodland in Copt Oak, diners can enjoy an intimate picnic of tasty local produce in one of the pods or enjoy dinner whilst watching the evening stars.

Build up an appetite with an early morning ranger-led tour around Bradgate Park where you will learn all about the edible produce that can be found within the park. After the walk you can tuck into a welldeserv­ed, hearty breakfast made up of tasty local produce.

Hop on the vintage Midland Red bus and dine around the forest for the Safari Supper, enjoying a different course of wonderful local forest food at some of the best pubs in Charnwood, exploring the ancient forest on your way.

Charnwood Cider will be offering a brewery tour and cider and ale tasting session at their new home, the Mash and Press in Anstey.

A Cheese pairing event where you will get to sample a wide selection of regional artisan cheeses, each carefully matched with local ale, cider, wine and cordial, beautifull­y presented and under the expert tutelage of our very own Cheese Meister, is also planned.

And look out for a special event when the ‘Tea in the Tower’ goes vegan for a whole day.

For more details visit www.ediblefore­st.co.uk

 ??  ?? A pod at the Edible Forest Festival.
A pod at the Edible Forest Festival.

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