Do you know a great Drinks Producer? I bet you do! You may even be one. Well now’s the chance to get them some serious recognition. But you’ll have to be quick. Nominations for this year’s BBC Food & Farming Awards close at midnight tonight, 27 Jan, so don’t delay.
Past winners have included Once Upon a Tree, the inspiring cider producer based in Herefordshire, the ever-creative, locally rooted Bristol Beer Factory, and Wye Valley Brewery, the community-driven family brewery.
One of north London’s best pubs needs your support to save it from being turned into flats.
The Alma is a much loved pub in Stoke Newington. Open for 150 years, the last decade it’s been in the capable hands of a brilliant landlady, Kirsty Valentine. A Kiwi, I first came into contact with Kirsty when she got in touch about cider, ahead of her now famous, twice-a-year Cider Festivals. A fab conversation ensued, where she outlined her vision, which included also serving food or recipes from wherever the festival tipples hailed.
Once more the residents of Brighton & Hove are putting on a food and drink spectacular for locals and visitors alike this September. With some of England's finest beers, wines and ciders on its doorstep, not to mention some of the most creative chefs this side of the world, this is a must for any food and drink lover.
I've got my eye on the Harveys Beer & Foraging Dinner, the evening or Regency Wine & Cheese with Mr Butler and Mr Deaves, to kick it all off, the Bitter & Twisted local beer and cider evening, and to finish proceedings – of course – the Brighton Beer & Cider Festival.
It’s a cliché but the showers really did nothing to dampen the spirit of festival-goers to Brogdale’s Cider Festival yesterday. If anything, the event just seemed more colourful, with rain macs and wellies adding to the spirit.
The Cider Barn curated by Tiddly Pomme's Debbie Hickman, was packed, as was new microbrewery, Mad Cat, and Jumbo Gumbo had all listeners dancing in the yard during their set.
Running on Sunday too, head to the Wild Food Tent to find foragers of note, including flower expert Lucia Stuart – her lavender lemonade is inspirational – and Michael White, who was serving up tasty mini sandwiches of freshly grilled – and filleted – pigeon.
Brogdale Farm plays host to the gem that is the National Fruit Collection. Within an hour or so of London you can visit the world's largest collection of fruit trees and plants.
Open daily throughout the summer, take advantage of daily guided tours, lasting about an hour. Or visit during the week in the winter. On the guided tours, your guide will pluck the latest apple, cherry or plum off the tree for you to try.
Local drinks old and new add a dose of liquid style to this year’s Kingston Food Festival as it heads into its final weekend.
Along with organic – and award-winning – stalwarts Sedlescombe Vineyard, I can vouch for the tasty brews from new Guildford-based nano-brewery, The Little Beer Corporation, There’s also traditional cider crafted from from East Kent cider apples from the Battle crew, and a delectable range of Blackwood spirits from the ever innovative Sarah at Lurgashall winery.
Do you know of a great British drinks producer you can visit that you’d like to tell the world about? One where you can visit and find out what makes that drink so special? Or is there a pub, restaurant or shop near you which stocks a great range of British drinks?
Well we’d love your help in not only identifying these places, but also writing about them for DrinkBritain.com.
“I’m looking to appoint a dozen DrinkBritain.com regional scouts around the country who can help me share the fascinatingly dynamic world of British drinks as far afield as possible,” says founder Susanna Forbes.
As the blossom emerges on the trees, so last year's cider gets ready for release, and there's no better place to try it then at The Big Apple's annual Blossomtime Festival. Located in the orchard heaven that is Much Marcle, near Hereford and Ledbury, there's talks, walks and plenty to taste and sip.
Waulkmill Cider, sat in luscious countryside between Langholm and Eskdalemuir, prides itself on being a truly Scottish enterprise, producing cider that is grown, picked and fermented in Dumfries and Galloway. They produce still cider, apple juice, and most recently cider vinegar, all from several Scottish apple varieties blended with local crab apples and traditional cider apples.
The Tate Modern’s much anticipated Damien Hirst exhibition will be running between April and September this year, and to pay homage to the Bristol born artist’s roots, the gallery will be serving a specially curated British drinks list.
Luckily the Tate’s bar manager and drinks buyer Alex Stevenson isn’t taking the theme too literally, so there won’t be any deftly shaken shots of formaldehyde making their way into classic cocktails.
Instead, expect to see spirits and liqueurs from English producers such as Bramley & Gage, Chase, Sipsmith, The Somerset Cider Brandy Company and Compass Box expertly crafted into drinks that will change as the British summertime comes and goes.
Do you know a great Drinks Producer? I bet you do! You may even be one. Well now’s the chance to get them some serious recognition. But you’ll have to be quick. Nominations for this year’s BBC Food & Farming Awards close at midnight tonight, 27 Jan, so don’t delay.
One of north London’s best pubs needs your support to save it from being turned into flats.
It’s a cliché but the showers really did nothing to dampen the spirit of festival-goers to Brogdale’s Cider Festival yesterday. If anything, the event just seemed more colourful, with rain macs and wellies adding to the spirit.
Do you know of a great British drinks producer you can visit that you’d like to tell the world about? One where you can visit and find out what makes that drink so special? Or is there a pub, restaurant or shop near you which stocks a great range of British drinks?
