Food fans will be hit for six by tasty new festival
Cricket ground hosts celebration of the best of the region’s food and drink
Foodies are set to be hit for six by a new festival set to take over Durham Cricket’s Riverside ground. More than 50 food stalls and vendors will be showcasing their wares at the free Chester-le-Eats event. It follows the success of ChesterFest at the venue in 2019 that attracted 10,000 people.
Taking place over the weekend of October 1 and 2, it’s set to be a celebration of North East food and drink.
Durham Cricket events manager, Ythan Sale, said: “We’ll have a blend of tasty street food, artisan local businesses and live music on the grounds of the Riverside, while you can roam both inside and outside and taste the very best of the region’s food.”
Among the traders announced so far are: Washington-based The Calabash Tree serving Caribbean street food; Spudgun Loaded Fries serving Loaded Fries and Halloumi; Spicy Monkey selling handmade curry sauces, Fusion Cake Haus, The Seahorse
Coffee Box and South Hetton-based WL Distillery.
There will be more than 40 food, drink and giftware stands inside the venue across two suites, with vans outside selling food from around the world, including vegan and vegetarian options.
There will also be live retro music to entertain the crowds.
Ythan added: “We can’t wait to see the people of the North East come out and have a good time with us.
"We are sure to see a lot of interest in the event and we are really looking forward to a fantastic foodie weekend.
"We have a wide variety of food and drink stalls both inside and outside and this is going to be a guaranteed fun weekend for all the family.”
It’s been a strong year for the venue as it’s bounced back from the pandemic, hosting household name concerts from Michael Buble and Diana Ross as well as high-profile matches such as the England Vs South Africa one day international.
The ground can hold 15,000 for cricket and up to 20,000 for a concert.
Ythan says people can look forward to more of the same with talks set to take place with promoters with a view to hosting around four concerts in 2023.
"Both of the concerts were fantastic and well attended and were a fantastic way for us to come back,” he said.
:: Chester-le-Eats takes place at Seat Unique Riverside from 10am to 3pm on October 1 and 2. Entry is free.
:: Calabash Tree: Former firefighter Ryan McVay had great success with his Calabash Tree business over lockdown when he brought a taste of Trinidad & Tobago to people’s doorsteps. Now, the Washington businessman has transformed a former Chinese takeaway in Swan Industrial Estate in Columbia to open Cove Caribbean.
Cove Caribbean offers a menu of Caribbean foods, such as loaded roti, burger topped with jerk brisket, macaroni pie and dutty, loaded fries as well as vegan options like curried channa aloo and red lentil coconut dhal.
‘Taste the very best of
the region’s food’