Taste East Devon is gearing up for a crowd-pulling 16-day festival to showcase the region’s food and drink scene with its sponsors steering success for another year. This year’s festival takes place between 3rd – 18th September 2022 when more than 40 food and drink events will be held over the course of two weeks.
Following on from a successful inaugural year, Taste East Devon has extended the festival by a week to allow for its jam-packed itinerary of events. From farm feasts to seaweed foraging, brewery open days to flour milling, seafood tasting experiences to BBQs, parties and bike rides down the stunning Exe Estuary; it’s a unique festival not to be missed.
Founder Members include THE PIG-at Combe, Darts Farm, Otter Brewery, Deer Park Country House, River Cottage, East Devon AONB, Donkey Sanctuary, Mazzard Farm, Jack in the Green and Lympstone Manor.
The 16-day event culminates with an afternoon of food and live music in the grounds of THE PIG-at Combe near Honiton, on 18 September.
Ruud Jansen Venneboer, Taste East Devon Chair and owner of Mazzard Farm accommodation, says: “Last year’s festival was a huge success! East Devon has an incredible food community, and it was amazing to see so many world-class businesses join together and really put our county on the map. We kick started it all off with the iconic, Ottery St Mary Food and Families Festival and finished with a fabulous Garden Party at THE PIG-at Combe. During the festival, we had a whole host of events; an evening with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall at River Cottage and a Field, Fire, Ferment feast in Darts Farm’s new restaurant, The Farm Table. Tasting Experiences and set menus at The Jack and The Green, The Salutation Inn and the Donkey Sanctuary. Brewery Tours and tastings with Otter Brewery. Hands on masterclasses and DIY bike tours. The list goes on, and this year we hope to make it bigger and better!”
Leader of East Devon District Council, Cllr Paul Arnott says, “We’re tremendously proud of our local roots and keen to promote East Devon as a quality food and drink destination. East Devon is our home – where we live and employ local people so we are keen to support activities that bring people together, encourage community spirit and support the local economy. Taste East Devon allows businesses with shared values to collaborate and shout about what a diverse food and drink area East Devon really is. Being able to celebrate the region in this way is an incredible privilege.”
Mark Godfrey, managing director of Deer Park Country House continues, “What makes the festival such a success, is its incredible diversity. There really is something for everyone; whether you are looking for something fun to do with the whole family, an experience with a loved one, or something that you are able to go to on your own. Some of the events are ticketed, and some are open freely to the public.”
The programme of events is available to view at www.tasteeastdevon.co.uk.
East Devon is uniquely placed with prized food treasures to discover across the region. It’s one of the only counties that has access to the best fresh seafood from the coast; its own native Ruby Red Devon Cattle; unique topography and climates that enable sheep farming to thrive; ancient, traditional orchards and beautiful coastal fields providing the perfect positioning for heritage vineyards. East Devon has been home to, and inspired generations of farmers and artisan producers for centuries and remains the perfect destination for all food lovers.
Sponsors include: East Devon District Council, East Devon Excellence, Jurassic Fibre, SunGift Solar, NFU Mutual Honiton, NFU Mutual Tiverton, Dart Fresh / Goosemoor Food Service and Ashfords.
For more information, visit www.tasteeastdevon.co.uk and follow @tasteeastdevon on Instagram and Facebook.
