Leamington Food and Drink Festival more popular than ever

They believe it has cemented the two-day event as one of the best autumn food festivals in the UK with visitors from near and far attracted to the diverse range of local food and drink being showcased.

Over 150 exhibitors filled the Pump Room Gardens for the weekend festival, which is now in its seventh year.

New for this year was Aubrey Allen’s ‘Home Cook of the Year’ competition with finalists judged in a live cook-off by celebrity chef Brian Turner CBE, Michelin star chef and local food hero Andreas Antona, from Simpsons, and Warwick and Leamington MP Chris White. Kate Reddington, from Leamington, was crowned the winner in front of a packed audience after wowing the judges with her favourite three -course menu despite badly cutting her thumb in the opening minutes of the contest.

Other highlights included the Taste Trail which was a sell-out with festival-goers keen to sample the menus of participating restaurants around the town.

Live music from the bandstand featuring local acts provided the backdrop to an action-packed programme of cooking, tasting and demonstrations. Stephanie Kerr, from BID Leamington, which organises the festival with the support of local businesses, said: “It’s great for the town and the local economy and huge thanks must go to everyone who supported the festival, from the traders and local businesses to the volunteer helpers and of course, all the visitors for making it such an enjoyable and resounding success. “

Alison Shaw, also from BID Leamington, added: “We had fantastic feedback from the traders with

many telling us they had sold out or had to bring in extra stock to cater for the huge demand and

we’ve been flooded with positive comments from visitors.

“Lots of people have been tweeting their favourite photos from the festival which has been great and we’re encouraging more to post theirs to @LeamingtonGuide with the hashtag #LeamFoodFest.”