Taste Cumbria Food Festival returns to The Trout Hotel’s home town of Cockermouth on 28 – 29 September 2019 – bigger and better than ever before!
Truth be told, there are few things lovelier than entering into a world of homemade cakes and pastries, succulent sandwiches, flavoured gins and live music in the open air. Food festival regulars, you will know the feeling well. But for those who haven’t yet been to Taste Cumbria food festival, you’re in for a treat.
Around 40,000 people descended onto the streets of Cockermouth for the 2018 Taste Cumbria and even more are expected this year. But what attracts them? In our humble opinion, it’s the fact that Cumbrian food producers are up there with the best food producers in the country and the quality of the food and drink on offer is superb.
A few culinary highlights in 2019 will include StoneHouse Smokery’s artisan meats, The Lakes Distillery’s flavoured gins, The Coffee Kitchen’s huge bread loafs, Cartmel Cheeses’ dairy offerings, The Trout Hotel’s Prosecco & Gin Bar and Rose Cottage’s incredible pies. That’s not to mention the secret pop-up restaurant, the expert cookery demonstrations and Gin Station. What’s more, the beautiful surroundings of Cockermouth, overlooked by the towering Lake District fells, adds a certain charm to the mix.
Taste Cumbria Cockermouth – What’s On?
Over the festival weekend, there’s a jam-packed programme of chef demonstrations, tastings and masterclasses. All day Saturday and Sunday, Main Street will be packed with more than 80 producers’ stalls selling food, drink and lovely things. And before the stalls open on Saturday morning, there will be warm up events held in various locations throughout Cockermouth. But that’s enough of an introduction. We’re sure that you can’t wait to find out what’s going on in Taste Cumbria food festival this year. Here’s what you have to look forward to.
Secret Pop-up Restaurant
The county’s most exclusive dining experience. Head Chef of the award winning Cottage in the Wood, Ben Wilkinson, will cook a six course meal paired with wines for just 20 guests in a pop-up restaurant on Saturday night. The location is yet-to-be-revealed but we’re sure that tickets will sell like hot cakes. Make sure to get yours here!
Lakes Distillery Gin Masterclasses at The Trout Hotel
On Saturday, we’ll be welcoming representatives from The Lakes Distillery to host three fabulous gin masterclasses at The Trout Hotel. Discover how to combine delicious flavours and learn about the gin distilling process as our experts guide you through the masterclasses while explaining the ideas behind their artistic approach to gin creation.
You’ll also have the opportunity to taste the range of expertly selected gins, as you learn to identify the unique flavours and botanicals in every bottle.
£15 per person. Masterclasses held at 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Pre-booking and pre-payment is kindly required for this event.
Makers Market
New to 2019, the food festival will be introducing a ‘Makers Market’ in Market Place, giving smaller artisan businesses an opportunity to showcase their talents. The organisers of the food festival wanted to give the event a broader flavour of what Cumbria has to offer, without solely focusing on food. Therefore, you’ll be able to get your hands on not only some delicious grub but also crafts, plants and homeware.
Comedy Night
This year’s Comedy Night will take place at 7 pm on Friday night in the Conservative Club. Three top comedy circuit comedians will take to the stage, bound to make you chuckle all night long. It’s the perfect start to your festival weekend so be sure not to miss out!
Tickets can be booked here.
Prosecco & Gin Bar
Especially for the occasion, The Trout Hotel’s courtyard will be transformed into a heaven of Prosecco and Gin. Occurring on Saturday 28th, there will be an outdoor Prosecco & Gin Bar where you can quench your thirst, or enjoy the delicious BBQ and entertaining live music.
Hot Food Court
This year, the hot food court has moved to the Memorial Gardens where it will be joined by live bands to entertain visitors on the Northbound Stage all day and into the evening across Friday and Saturday. With a range of local food providers, tuck into something that will truly tickle those taste buds, along with Workington’s Tractor Shed Brewery providing a host of local beers and ales to quench your thirst.
Street Party
Market Place will also be hosting a street party so that you can boogie your way into the night with a drink in one hand, and a delicious meal in the other.
Why not?
So, why not take advantage of the quieter month of September to take in a foodie and Lake District break all at once? Staying in a room at The Trout Hotel would mean that you are in on the action and only a few meters away from the main event – what more could you ask for?
We still have rooms available, with plenty going on in our outdoor areas and courtyard, such as the highly anticipated Prosecco & Gin Bar and our BBQ and Live Music Night.