This April local Restaurant Wild Thyme  is joining with their suppliers and foodie friends to host a celebration of local food and drink. The event takes place on Sunday 25th April in Chipping Norton’s Town Hall and is open to all between 11am and 4pm.

“Since moving to Chipping Norton in November 2008, Nick and I have been harbouring a desire to start an annual food festival in the town and celebrate all the wonderful produce that the area has to offer. This year, we thought we would start small, well smallish, with an event that provides the opportunity to meet local producers, learn more about their great products, sample something new and hopefully be inspired to try out a few recipes. We are very excited that the truly great Prue Leith has agreed to open the festival, and our hope is that this event will grow over time into something that attracts visitors to the area and helps put the town on the map as a foodie destination – now wouldn’t that be good?”   Sally Daniel - Partner

Throughout the day there will be a series of cookery demonstrations by Chef Proprietor Nicholas Pullen, and staff from The Town Nursery will be providing fun food activities to get the little ones involved.

Confirmed to date are:

■J R Kench Butchers, Chipping Norton – will be providing tasters and selling some of his wonderful meat

■Cotswold Brewing Company, Foscot – will be offering tasters and selling their renowned local brews

■Wykham Park Farm, Banbury – produce a range of vegetables and fruit as well as rearing their own cattle, sheep and pigs

■Stevens Garnier Wines, Oxford – will be showcasing wines from Portugal; a chance to try and buy

■Upton Smokery, Hurst Barn Farm Burford – produce an array of delicious home smoked meat and fish products

■Sandfields Farm, Over Norton – local farmer Ben Millard offers delicious free range chickens

■Jaffe and Neale, Chipping Norton – will be selling cookery books and foodie things

■Cotswold Coffee, Morton-in-Marsh - teas and coffees to try

■Fieldbar Wines – delicious fruit wines to try and buy

■Liz Teall Pottery, Salford – local potter will be showcasing her lovely crocs; all you need for your kitchen and table

■New Wave Seafood, Fairford – fine fresh fish direct from the Cornish coast daily

■Crudges Cheese, Kingham – Roger and Karen Crudge, artisan cheesemakers will be tempting you to take some home with tasters of their local cheeses

■Wild Thyme Restaurant, Chipping Norton – selling some of their delicious ice cream, and giving you a taste of things to come.

There is a small admission fee to go towards the cost of running the event of £2 per adult, children are free.

01608 645060