This year’s Westmorland County Show is set to be one big party. Not only is it the 225th show, but the Food Hall and Food Theatre is marking its 25th birthday.
You can’t have a party without food and drink and the show – which takes place on September 11 and 12 – is one place to find it in abundance as the best makers and producers come together.
The Food Hall, sponsored by Booths, is the place to find locally made bread, jams and chutneys, chocolate, cakes and bakes, gin, tea and coffee, meat and fish and a whole host of other edible treats.
The show is also the place to find some of the country’s most famous names in food and cooking, as well as stars from the local food scene.
Leading two days of demonstrations and chat are restaurant critic Tom Parker Bowles and TV favourite Phil Vickery, who spent part of his career at Michael’s Nook hotel in Grasmere.
Hospitality consultant and Food Theatre manager Lorraine Stanton says: ‘Since the show went to two days, and as this year is the 25th anniversary of the Food Hall, we wanted to have two celebrity chefs. Phil has been like a resident chef at the show so it was a given he would be part of it.
‘Graham Kirkham of Mrs Kirkham’s Cheese put us in touch with Tom. He is going to be great fun and will be doing all sorts of things over a whole day, such as presenting and chatting with some of the other chefs.’
Stars of the local food scene who will also be in the Food Theatre include Ryan Blackburn, co-owner of Old Stamp House, in Ambleside, who will also have his new venture the Schelly to talk about.
Returning by popular demand is Scott Fairweather, who is moving on from his head chef at the Black Swan, Ravenstonedale, this autumn, and Rob Stacey will be stepping out of Levens Kitchen and heading over the road to the show.
Harrison Ward, also known as Fell Foodie, will be cooking together with Phil Vickery, Mark and Maria Whitehead, co-founders of Hawkshead Relish, will be doing a special anniversary cooking demonstration and Kendal College will be back.
This year the event will stage the Beef Shorthorn National Show on September 11, along with the Young Farmers’ Club’s Five Nations stock judging competition. The show will host a two-day pig show this year with the addition of a kune kune section. As always, bumper sheep entries are expected and the show will act as a qualifier for the Teeswater Sheep Breeders’ Association's 75th anniversary champion of champions competition.
An exceptional equine section will see classes across both days and numerous qualifiers, including for the London International and Royal International Horse Shows.
This year’s show will also welcome the return of the poultry section. Other attractions include the All Weights Wrestling World Championship that will take place on September 12.
Tickets for the 225th Westmorland County Show are on sale now at westmorlandcountyshow.co.uk
WIN TICKETS TO THE SHOW AND MEET A CELEBRITY CHEF
We have two sets of family tickets (two adults and two children) for this year's Westmorland County Show to give away, one for Wednesday, September 11 and one for Thursday, September 12. As well as entry to the show, the prize includes front row seats in the Cumbria Life Food Theatre and the chance to meet celebrity Tom Parker Bowles or Phil Vickery.
We also have five pairs of runners up entry tickets to win, which can be used on either day.
For a chance to win, fill in the entry form in this link
