BISHOP Auckland is gearing up to take thousands of visitors on a taste trip around the globe this weekend.
From the region’s finest produce to the exotic flavours of the Mediterranean, Thailand and Mexico, Bishop Auckland Food Festival will have something to suit every palate.
Throughout Saturday and Sunday, well over 100 traders from across the North will pedal their wares and serve up food and drink to the throngs.
As usual, some familiar faces will serve up masterclasses and demonstrations.
Rosemary Shrager, who has appeared on many TV shows including ITV’s Ladette to Lady which was filmed at Eggleston Hall in Teesdale, royal caterer Rob Kennedy, TV chef and cookery book writer Richard Fox and Channel 4’s Fabulous Baker Brothers Tom and Henry Herbert will all share their kitchen know-how.
Festival favourite Ivor Peters, aka The Urban Rajah, will run a pop-up cafe in the town hall where there will be a comedy show on Saturday night.
New this year, will be a pop-up venue in the former McIntyre building, previously Dorothy Perkins, on Newgate Street. Inspired by the Bavarian Bier Keller tradition, The Bish and Hop will host Oompah and folk music, a family rave and session ales from The Steam Machine Brewery.
In recent years the festival has been held partly in the grounds of Auckland Castle, but this year markets will all be in Market Place or Newgate Shopping Centre due to major restoration works at the castle.
Instead, visitors can take a rare behind the scenes glance at two of the historic buildings being transformed as part of Auckland Castle Trust’s £70m revitalisation project.
This includes a short guided tour of the 900-year-old Castle’s St Peter’s Chapel and empty halls where Prince Bishops once entertained. Across the Market Place, visitors can see how the now derelict Backhouse Bank building will be transformed into a Spanish Gallery by 2019.
The Trust will also run heritage craft workshops at No42 Market Place, which along with the sneak peeks will be free and run from 10am to 5pm both days, last admission 4pm.
A park and ride service will run to the festival every 15 minutes from Bishop Auckland College, on Woodhouse Lane, between 9.15am and 4.45pm on Saturday and 9.45am and 3.15pm on Sunday.
The last bus back leaves the back of Wetherspoon’s The Stanley Jefferson pub at 5.45pm on Saturday and 4.45pm on Sunday.
Return fare £2 for adults, 50p for children and free for under fives.
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