Derby Food & Drink Festival 2012

Every year Derbyshire County Council organises a culinary based festival that attracts thousands of people from all over the country, and this year is no different. The 2010 festival was held in the grounds of Kedleston Hall and the 10,000 or more people who attended were blessed with great weather with which to enjoy the 140 or more stalls of food, drink arts and crafts. Last year the festival moved to Hardwick Hall which was a resounding success, therefore, again, the Derbyshire Food & Drink Festival 2012 will be held in the stunning grounds of Hardwick Hall over the weekend of 26th – 27th May and promises as much to see and do as last year. This year there will be in excess of 100 stalls of food and drink safely housed under the protective shelter of a number of marquees, so even if the weather doesn’t hold out, visitors can still browse and enjoy the wares in comfort.

Live Cooking Demonstrations

As well as the stalls, there will be live culinary demonstrations by Celebrity chefs such as Simon Rimmer from ‘Something for the Weekend’, 'Lorraine's' Dean Edwards. There will also be sections where well known local chefs will show off their skills by creating their signature dishes.

Arts & Crafts

A key part of the Derby Food and Drink Festival in recent years has been the Arts and Crafts area which helps to give much needed exposure to local artists from around Derbyshire. This year promises not to disappoint either with over 30 local artists showcasing their talents and work in the Crafts Marquee. Traditional skills will also be on display within the event such as stone carving, blacksmithing, willow weaving and wood turning.

Entertainment

As well as the usual food and drink stalls and art and crafts, there will be a variety of different entertainment for all ages around the grounds of Hardwick Hall. This will include things such as live Live music events, competitions, suggested local walks and countryside craft demonstrations. There will also be plenty to keep the kids entertained like a bouncy castle, face painting and more.

As a special offer for visitors to the festival, half price admission into Hardwick Hall and its gardens will be available

Car Parking at Derby Food and Drink Festival

Car Parking will be available in the grounds of the Hardwick estate but it is advisable to come early as spaces will be limited.

Accommodation for Derby Food and Drink Festival

For those people travelling from outside of Derbyshire who wish to make a weekend of it, here is some information about hotels near Hardwick Hall as well as other types of local accommodation:

If your budget can stretch to it then the obvious choice would be a stay at one of the 2 cottages located right in the heart Of the Hardwick Estate but the minimum stay here is 3 nights. These are Stableyard Cottages and High Hazels at Hardwick Hall.

If you’re looking for cottages to rent near the Derby food and drink festival then you nearest bet is Pear tree farm barn in nearby Rowthorn Village. This is a charming detached stone barn conversion in a quiet conservation village and an ideal place from which to explore the eastern side of the Peak District.

If you would prefer to get a hotel near Derby Food and drink festival then the closest would be Twin Oaks hotel, located in the village of Calow just north of Hardwick Hall.

For B&Bs and Guesthouses near Derby Food Festival try Appleby Guesthouse to the east in Pleasley near Mansfield, or Whitton Lodge B&B to the west in Hardstoft. Also in Hardstoft is The Famous Shoulder B&B.

Alternatively, if you would like to make a trip to visit Derby then you can choose from a wide selection of hotels in Derby.

Places to eat near Derby Food and Drink Festival

If your visit to the festival has whet your appetite and you still have room for something to eat then you may want to consider some of the following restaurants near Hardwick Hall:

About a mile from Hardwick Hall in Glapwell, Hubbards restaurant is probably one of your nearest places to eat. A little further away (about 3 miles) in Heath is a local pub called the Elm Tree Inn which serves traditional pub food in a pleasant atmosphere. If Indian food is your thing then Anaarkali restaurant in Holmewood would be your best bet.

If you are actually staying in Derby then you have an abundance of restaurants in Derby to choose from dependant on your location within the city.

Places to visit near Hardwick Hall

There are a number of attractions in the vicinity of Hardwick Hall so if you want to see a bit more of Derby and Derbyshire before or after your visit to The Derbyshire Food and Drink festival then use the information below.

Places to visit in Derby – local attractions

Chatsworth House – With its exhibitions, beautiful gardens, farmyard and adventure playground, Chatsworth house make a great day out for all the family.

Bolsover Castle – The former venue for the Derbyshire Food and Drink fair, this castle has a fairytale like charm to it and make a great value day out.

Arbor Low Stone Circle and Gib Hill Barrow – One of the most prominent discoveries and prehistoric sites in the midlands, the stone circle is a Neolithic henge monument set on high moor area. Certainly worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Peak Cavern – Huge cavern emanating from Britain’s largest cave entrance Peak cavern contains historic ropeworks. Nicknamed the Devil’s arse – find out why.

Places of interest in Derby – Museums

Derby has a number of different museums to visit which tell the story of the city’s industrial past and heritage.

The Silk Mill Museum - Derby’s museum of industry and heritage, is based in the Cathedral Quarter of Derby and sits on the site of the world’s oldest factories.

Royal Crown Derby Museum – 250 years of local craft work is shown off in the form of the figures, tableware and collectibles from the Royal Crown range

Masson Mills Textile Museum – These mills from 1783 were Sir Richard Arkwright’s showpiece and the museum shows a marvellously unique collection of textile machinery.