North Notts Food Fest returns with demos and delicious treats to eat and drink

Worksop's annual food and drink celebration, North Notts Food Fest, returns to the town centre this Saturday (July 6) headlined by TV chef and presenter of Aldi ’s Next Big Thing, Chris Bavin. The free family-friendly event will take place form 10am to 4pm in the town's Old Market Square.

As well as a packed programme of cookery demonstrations from a selection of returning and new celebrity and local chefs, there will be children’s food-themed activities, face painting and street entertainment, including the Hot Dinners band.

An outside bar and artisan street market selling locally produced and hand-made treats will add to the abundance of food and drink offerings with stalls including Siggy’s Handmade Pizzas, Outlaw Cookie Club and Claylands Wines.

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Chris Bavin will be presenting two demonstrations showcasing how to get the best meals from cost-effective seasonal ingredients. Having recently hosted the second series of Channel 4’s Aldi’s Next Big Thing, Chris also presents several BBC food shows including Eat Well for Less with last year’s Food Fest celebrity guest Gregg Wallace. He also regularly contributes to The One Show and showcases his horticulture expertise during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Billy Frost from the Mucky Duck pub and restaurant in Drakeholes joins Chris on the schedule of demonstrations in the main marquee. Billy has worked up through the culinary ranks to win the national Escoffier Challenge, reaching the semi-final of National Chef of the Year and competing on MasterChef: The Professionals. Food Fest favourite and home economist Teresa Bovey will also be returning to share her expertise on serving up low-cost tasty treats.

Further demonstrations include food writer and mummy blogger Emily Leary, author of Get your Kids to Eat Anything, and Arya Madhavan, who will be showcasing her Indian Curry Pot spice mixes that visitors will be able to grab their hands on.

Children can create their own ‘veg critter’ in the children’s activity tent throughout the day, with a small prize for the best creation. Younger visitors will also be able to enjoy some story time reading in the Story Shed on Bridge Street.

Sally Gillborn, chief executive of event organiser North Notts BID, said: “The Food Fest has become an annual treat in the Bassetlaw calendar since we held our first event in 2019. We’re proud to once again be serving up a mixture of firm favourites of the Food Fest along with fresh culinary talents in a celebration of everything that’s great about low-cost local food and drink.

“With a raft of demonstrations and activities for families to enjoy, it is also an informative event for people looking to learn more about how they can make great food at home, all while supporting local producers and businesses in the town.”

Road closures are in place around the Old Market Square from 6am to 6pm.

Activity schedule:

Main marquee:

• 11:00am – 11:45am: Teresa Bovey

• 12:00pm – 1:00pm: Chris Bavin

• 1:30pm – 2:15pm: Billy Frost

• 2:45pm – 3:30pm: Chris Bavin

Second marquee:

• 10:30am – 11:00am: Curry pot demo with Arya Madhavan

• 11:45am – 12:15pm: Emily Leary

• 1:00pm – 1:30pm: Mixology demo

• 2:15pm – 2:45pm: Emily Leary

Children’s activity marquee:

• 10:30am – 3pm: Vegetable critter making