Next course for Castlefield food festival

THE Castlefield Food Festival returns for its third year later this month with an array of masterclasses, food demos and live music.

The free festival – which takes place from May 11 to 14 – will also have plenty of top local producers and farmers, as well as on-site bars serving up real ale and craft gin.

Famous Five-inspired cooking capers will take centre stage as 2017 sees the addition of an exciting collaboration between the festival and celebrity chef, Robert Owen Brown.

In honour of Visit England’s Year of the Literary Heroes 2017, the festival will present, ‘TeaSup’ – Camp-Fire cooking with ‘lashings of ginger beer (cocktails)’.

The Demonstration Kitchen, where the best and brightest of our region’s chefs show off their skills in free cook-off Challenges, will return, as will food and drink masterclasses featuring names such as Bobby’s Bangers, Gingers Comfort Emporium and Icky Sticky Cakes.

In Partnership with Manchester Gin creators, Zymugorium and Castlefield’s party boat The Dry Barge will provide people with the opportunity to embark on a Swallows and Amazon-style Gin and Cocktail Experience.

Street food traders include Somtam Street, Eat New York Diner, Churtopia, Bunny Chow, Dim Sum Su and Cheese & Iron. There’s also a music line-up with top local unsigned bands.

Around 40,000 people visited last year’s festival.