Emsworth's British Food Fortnight

Emsworth's British Food Fortnight

Emsworth will once again be participating in British Food Fortnight, which this year runs from 23rd September to 8th October. The brainchild of Love British Food, British Food Fortnight is a wonderful opportunity for Emsworth to showcase its food heritage but more than that it’s about the community coming together to celebrate itself through food. Three words sum up what this fortnight is all about: Community, education and celebration.

There is an amazing programme of events and activities over the fortnight from local producer Markets to Apple Pressing Day, from a Community Seafood Lunch on the Quay to a Beer and Cider Festival and so, so much more. Emsworth businesses will be pushing the boat out this year too with tastings, demonstrations and special offers. Once again Emsworth is working with local Primary Schools, Colleges of Further Education and supporting the local Beacon Food Bank.

Alistair Gibson from the organising committe commetned: “I firmly believe that community is the thing that binds us together, make us part of the same story, gives us our sense of place. The Emsworth British Food Fortnight is not just another Food Festival this is a real celebration embracing community and education and celebrating Emsworth and the local region through its people and its food. In essence we’re laying the table, and are adding new dishes all the time, all you have to do is pull up a chair and enjoy the feast!”

Some of this year’s main events include -


Emsworth Apple Pressing Day – Saturday 23rd September
A real community event. Local apples grown by residents producing ‘Emsworth Apple Presse 2017’ in the Square. The label for this year will be unveiled on the day, designed by a local primary school pupil.

The ‘Great British Menu’ College Lunches
Three local catering colleges take over the Brookfield Hotel and design, prepare and serve a ‘Great British Menu’
Highbury College – 27th September, Chichester College – 28th September, Fareham College- 5th October

Emsworth’ Beer and Cider Festival - Friday 29th September to Sunday 1st October
Enjoy up to 30 great British beers, both local and from further afield, combined with some astonishingly good English wines and cider, as well as live entertainment and local food producers.

Emsworth Market Day with Hampshire Farmers’ Market - Saturday 30th September – St.Peters’ Square

The Emsworth Wine Fair - Saturday 30th September
Organised by the areas 4 local independent wine merchants, this is a wonderful opportunity to taste over 40 wines and spirits. While focusing on award winning English wines, there will also be some fantastic wines from other regions from Rioja to Stellenbosch. However its not just wine on offer, there will be a range of British Gins and the English Whisky Co will also be there as well.

Emsworth Community Seafood Lunch  - Sunday 1st October
The Emsworth Community Seafood lunch will once again celebrate our fishing heritage; the lunch will be served on the Quay, on long communal tables and will be prepared by five of the areas leading chefs: Lawrence Murphy – Fat Olives Restaurant, Giles Babb – Bluebell Inn, Gary Pearce – Restaurant 36 on the Quay Jon Scourfield – Brookfield Hotel – Barbara Crick – Emsworth Cookery School. The lunch will see the launch of this years Emsworth’s Lobster pot Christmas Tree and all profits from the Lunch will go to Emsworth’s two Primary Schools.

A ‘Thought for Food’ Local Showcase Market - Saturday 7th October
Created to enable local food & drink producers from West Sussex and Hampshire to come together and showcase their products here in Emsworth, this outdoor market has proved a big hit with both visitors and producers. There will be live music from local young performers including the brilliant Heronshaw, food safaris and food demonstrations throughout the day so this market should have something to appeal to just about everyone!

Taking the Harvest to Primary Schools
In conjunction with Hampshire Farmers’ Market food education workshops will be hosted at local primary schools for pupils.

‘A Boost of Kindness’
Food Bank Collection points will be prominent in Emsworth over the fortnight in aid of The Beacon Food Bank, culminating in the building of a ‘Food Mountain’ on Sunday 8th October

These are just a taster of what’s to come as will be revealed when this year’s programme is released Monday 28th August at the Emsworth Horticultural Show. The programme will contain a full listing of events and activities from special menus and tastings and much, much more in many of Emsworth’s restaurants, cafes, shops and public houses that both residents and visitors can enjoy.