Ashford Town Centre Busy Getting Ready For The Ashford Food And Drink Festival

22nd June 2023
Paul Brooks

Businesses in Ashford Town Centre are busy getting ready for the first Ashford Food and Drink Festival, a month-long celebration of food and drink businesses throughout July.

Kicking off the festival is the free launch event at Coachworks on Friday 30 June 4pm-10pm. There will be live music, family-friendly pizza making workshops with Il Pakkero, an independent food and drink market, as well as Coachworks’ regular fantastic food and drink offerings.

The festivals opening weekend will feature ASHFOOD! – A two-day event at Elwick Place, Saturday 1 July – Sunday 2 July that celebrates the producers, restaurants, pop-ups and bars from Ashford Town Centre and beyond. Including live music, children’s crafts, DJs and more, this will be a great family-friendly celebration of food and drink.

Other events taking place include a three-day Summer Beers & BBQ Festival with Curious Brewery & Wild Beer Co, Friday 21 July – Sunday 23 July, where you can come along to taste summer small plates, BBQ classics, and exclusive brews, plus enjoy live music.

An Evening with Wine Garden of England and Boys Hall, at Revelation in St Mary’s Church on Wednesday 19 July 7:30 – 9:30, sees award-winning Kent Vineyards alongside delicious local produce come to Ashford Town Centre. Enjoy a tutored wine tasting from Wine Garden of England’s Jo Smith on seven of Kent’s finest wineries including Ashford based Chapel Down, Biddenden, Westwell Wines and Gusbourne alongside local cheeses and charcuterie courtesy of Boys Hall, all accompanied by live music from Jonny Hepbir.

There is a full line up of activities in the town centre for the festival, including bottomless brunches, craft beer tastings, specially curated cocktail evenings, pizza making workshops, wine tasting and kids’ cupcake making – something for the whole family!

Many of the town centre businesses are involved including Low Key Taproom, Valeries, Salata, Itacas, Made in Ashford, Jays Soul Food and The Little Teapot.

Plus there’s a variety of special offers running throughout July and two amazing competitions on offer – A Discovery Experience for four at Gusbourne Vineyard and a Kent Cookery School class for two.

Keli Nolan-Lyons, Town Centre Regeneration Manager for Ashford Borough Council said: “We are so pleased to have so many of our fantastic town centre businesses involved and collaborating with others across the wider borough in the first Ashford Food and Drink Festival.

“We are always looking at ways we can support businesses and bring local residents and visitors to the town centre and we hope many take the opportunity to taste, try and discover what our wonderful town has to offer.”

The Love Ashford team at Ashford Borough Council have worked closely with local businesses to bring a month-long festival full of events, offers and promotions. The Ashford Food and Drink Festival is part of the council’s Ashford Festival and Event Framework, as part of the Town Centre Reset; which is to stimulate a vibrant, accessible and sustainable town centre for residents, visitors and businesses.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the ticketed events head to www.loveashford.com or follow Love Ashford social media channels for the latest news, Facebook @loveashford, Instagram @loveashford and LinkedIn @Loveashford

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