Chef Adam Handling MBE’s first-ever AHC Food Festival was a huge success, he says: “We smashed it!”, with around 2,000 attendees joining the festivities across the weekend (October 4th and 5th) at The Tartan Fox, Adam’s luxury countryside pub near Newquay.
Created as a celebration of community and the exceptional talent within the Adam Handling Collection (AHC), the two-day event saw festival-goers enjoying the very best in food, drink and hospitality. “We’re going to do it again next year,” says Adam “and make it even bigger and better. Even Storm Amy couldn’t dampen the weekend! It was an incredible day. It was great to bring our team from across the Collection together and to showcase what we do best from around the UK to Cornish locals, friends and regulars from across the Collection and everyone else who came down to see us.”
The festival brought together all of Adam’s restaurants, pubs, bars and his award-winning Chocolate Shop for the first time ever – an unprecedented showcase of the Collection’s talent. Visitors enjoyed over 2,000 portions of food and hand-painted chocolates, as well as Adam’s own label English sparkling wine and cocktails from Eve bar.
A series of live chef demos and cocktail and wine masterclasses, hosted by the Collection’s team, wowed the crowd, with the barn being packed out each day. On Saturday and Sunday evenings, sold-out firepit banquets brought guests together for a sharing feast, with Adam leading the team in cooking over open flames. Live music from Josh Curnow and other local Cornish bands added a lively soundtrack to a festival grounded in community, craftsmanship and celebration.
The AHC Food Festival marks the beginning of what looks to be an exciting new annual tradition at The Tartan Fox, bringing Adam’s unique take on hospitality to even more people in Cornwall and beyond.
Upcoming events planned at The Tartan Fox include the next in the monthly Feast series on October 16th. These are regularly held on the third Thursday of each month, with a new menu at each Feast. There is a Sunset and Supper seascape painting workshop with local artist Gemma Lessinger followed by dinner on 18th October. Hayley Blooms will be holding a wreath-making class with snacks and fizz on November 29th, and the Tartan Fox’s Christmas Market will be held on December 14th, with stands from local food and drink producers, alongside great food from the Tartan Fox kitchen and warming winter drinks from the bar team.
