Town’s big food events are back on the menu
MELTON, widely known as the “rural capital of food”, will again host food events including PieFest, the Artisan Cheese Fair, ChocFest and the East Midlands Food Festival this year.
Many of these events had to be cancelled last year due to the pandemic.
However, they are set to make a return, with the first event, the Artisan Cheese Fair, taking place on the weekend of June 26 and 27.
The cheese fair - which was last year held online - is said to be the UK’s largest cheese fair, with around 60 artisan cheesemakers from Britain and Ireland and around 300 cheeses to try and buy.
The event is focused on smaller cheese makers, and many of the winners and entrants from this year’s national Artisan Cheese Awards – which will be judged the week before the fair – will be at the event.
Other food and drink will be on sale, including wine, cakes, beer, pies and hot street food, and there will be a range of other stands.
Talking about the return of the event, organiser Dr Matthew O’Callaghan, pictured at a previous PieFest, told the Mercury: “I am delighted that we’re going to be holding the cheese fair again in Melton.
“It’s one of our most popular events and attracts around 60 cheesemakers from the UK and Ireland, as well as other complementary food and drink offers. The event attracts between 6,000 and 8,000 visitors.
“We will also be holding the cheese awards as well the week prior to the fair.”
Following the Artisan Cheese Fair, you will also be able to enjoy an array of sweet and savoury pies at PieFest on August 7 and 8.
The 17th East Midlands Food Festival is set to take place on October 1 and 2, and ChocFest, featuring everything from chocolate beer to chocolate pizzas, is due to return on November 21 and 22.
All events will take place at Melton Mowbray Market, in Scalford Road.