2021 festivals: Abergavenny after thoughts plus looking back on Ludlow & Shrewsbury
Abergavenny after thoughts
Abergavenny Food Festival is a very special kind of food festival; one with plenty of food for the belly, whether it is to eat on site or take home with you, but also so much food for thought.
So we were delighted that this year’s event could go ahead and that we could take up our place in the grounds of the Castle. To friends old and new who came to see us, “thank you”, it was a true joy to see you all again and to exchange tentative, but heartfelt hugs. A special hello to Polly and Nellie and a big shout out to Kavey Eats , who volunteered Pete to come and help us pack up!
Here the brains are not served on toast, but dished up for discussion and debate. Speakers including food writers, presenters and entrepreneurs join chefs to offer thoughts and opinions on a sweeping range of topics across the the food industry, from field to fork. The spoken word, the written word, from folklore to food fashion, from agriculture to science, so many important words, so many important subjects.
And it is a democratic and inclusive event; we spoke to Henry Dimpleby as we queued for our early morning caffeine hit; Tim Hayward and Jenny Chandler popped on to the stand to chat with us, we watched Xanthe Clay on a video call with Claudia Rosen. We met the frankly brilliant backstage team in the Market Hall, led by Roo Hasan as we watched Calum Franklin and Nokx Majozi create pies which were pure pastry art. On the fire stage, Sam And Shauna’s demo glowed as brightly as the fires expertly tended by the Fire Pits UK crew. And it's always a treat to catch up with Chetna Makan
We have heard people comparing and ranking these festivals, but we think that is not the way to approach them. We attended 4 events in 3 weekends (and yes, it WAS hard work!) and each one was different, each had its own characteristic and appealed to different audiences. And yes, we enjoyed all of them, BECAUSE they were all different, not in spite of the difference.
When it comes to festivals, as well as life and pans, do your research, choose wisely and you will not be disappointed.
Abergavenny 2022 will take place on 17th and 18th Septemeber.
And if you can't resist, then you can find a recipe for brains on toast on Great British Chefs here:
Looking back on Ludlow
Ludlow Food Festival is always special; after all it set the standard when it launched as the very first UK Food festival, 27 years ago.
And a constant throughout those years was the towering figure of Phil Maile, founder and director.
But sadly, earlier this year, Phil died and this year the festival took place without his guiding hand in the castle, although his presence was felt everywhere.
That the festival was such a triumph, after two years of tribulation was a fitting tribute to a man who had given so much to the town of Ludlow, and who had been a stalwart friend to Netherton Foundry.
Rickards of Ludlow, where Phil was the manager, is our oldest stockist, its future currently uncertain.
But back to the festival – it was never going to be easy to relaunch the event. So many unknowns, ups and downs, changes in regulations and restrictions and who could judge the general mood.
We have no doubt that Sally, Hannah and the rest of the team endured sleepless nights and fraught days in the run up to the gates opening on Friday morning.
But as that well known figure Captain Hindsight might say, “they needn’t have worried”.
The sun shone, the crowds poured in, the guest speakers and chefs turned up and the castle was well and truly stormed.
We saw so many old friends, it was like the best ever school reunion! We met hordes of new people. It was Drew’s first festival, not only was he featured on the banner at the back of the stand, he was front and centre on the stand in person, meeting customers face to face, rather than working behind the scenes making cookware at the workshops. We had extra help from the marvellous Louise Fletcher who worked her socks off and said she’d had the time of her life.
And we were delighted to supply the demo chefs with an array of Netherton pans and even more delighted when they shared their love of them with the crowds.
The roll call of chefs, writers and producers included old hands and new faces and the Ludlow festival’s own page showcases them all.
Here we are deep in conversation with Claire Thomson and Fiona Beckett, but this photo of Karan, from Hoppers London with Sarit and Itamar, aka Honey & Co. sums up the joy of the event, whilst the zany DJ BBQ characterises the fun!
but this photo of Karan, from Hoppers London with Sarit and Itamar, aka Honey & Co. sums up the joy of the event, whilst the zany DJ BBQ characterises the fun!
A few thoughts on the Shrewsbury Food Festival.
The dust has settled, the marquees are long gone, but the memories are still vivid.
The Shrewsbury Food Festival was the very first festival we ever attended, way back in 2013. A first for us, a first for them.
2020 was set to be the 8th year for the festival and our 8th attendance. The date was set in June, the diary was updated, plans made and everything was set.
And then……………….. cancellation, no. Postponement, yes.
June 2020 was not gonna happen, but maybe, just maybe a later date would be okay. Those heady days of optimism.
In the end, of course, 2020 came and went, June 2021 came and went. Our hearts went out to the festival organisers, whose lives and business had been turned upside down and shaken til their heads spun.
But Beth and co at Shropshire Festivals are fighters and finally, triumphantly Shrewsbury food festival 2021 took place in glorious September sunshine.
And boy, was it worth the wait. Despite restrictions, last minute changes, cancellations and a myriad other things that no doubt happened behind the scenes, this year’s festival was the best ever.
It is fair to say that there were smiles, laughter and a few tears, such was the emotion of being back out in the world. It felt a little apprehensive to start with, but it was so good to be able to see all our friends again, to make new ones, to chatter and natter and swap stories. So good to be able to share our wares with the wider world, a world beyond a computer screen or a phone. So good to see our friends running their stands as they always have. So good to see the genuine emotion of people coming back into a public space.
To everyone at the workshops who worked so hard to get everything ready for us, we say "Thanks, you were outstanding." To Louise Fletcher, whose help was invaluable, we say " We couldn't have done it without you and what are you doing next year?". To Chef Chris Burt we say "as ever, you played an absolute blinder, chef!" To everyone who supported the event, supported us, came out and enjoyed themselves, we say “nice to see you and we’ll be back next year!” And to the organisers, “you were amazing, thank you!”.
To the trollers and naysayers, and there were some, we say “begone – you have no place and we have no patience for you. “
Netherton Foundry, Shropshire, England. A family business crafting traditional cookware in Highley, Shropshire from iron, oak and copper,using materials predominantly sourced in our own and neighbouring counties. Copyright 2021.
