Another Week of Festival Flavour

Festival feasting is continuing across the county as people enjoy tucking into one of the many tasty events happening as part of the Hampshire Food Festival. The festival runs from 1-31 July and involves over 60 events including vineyard, farm and brewery tours; cookery masterclasses; pop-up dining and more.

Here's a summary of all that's going over the coming week. Some events are free and you can just turn up, others require prebooking. 

Join The Thomas Lord for a pre-theatre two or three course menu before enjoying an award-winning performance of Nell Gwynn at West Meon House. Booking essential, two courses £18, three courses £23 and performance £18. Tel. 01730 829244.

Chocolate Craft in Alresford invite you to join them for free chocolate demonstrations and chocolate tasting on Thursday 12th July. Open to all (age 8+), just turn up, no need to book. 10am-4pm, free entry. Option to decorate a lolly for £5. 
Location: Unit 1, Upton Park Farm, Old Alresford, SO24 9EB.

The fabulous FirstBite Community Cafe at St Peter's Pastoral Centre in Winchester is celebrating the Hampshire Food Festival this Thursday with a Community Cafe BBQ. Using a selection of local produce to highlight projects which save good food from going to waste. Pop along from 12.30 - 2pm, £3.50 - £4.50, veggie options available.
Location: St Peter's Pastoral Centre, Jewry Street, Winchester

Join Long Barn this Thursday evening for a five-course menu of creative food served in their stunning venue by The Bread & Butter Kitchen. Guests will also be treated to an interactive gin-making experience. Arrival 6.30pm, booking essential, £45 for adults, £22.50 for children (must be age 12+). Booking 01264 736044. 
Location: Long Barn, The Old Sheep Fair, Bishops Sutton Road, Alresford SO24 9EJ.

Top local chef, James Durrant (pictured right), is hosting a Local Produce Dinner No 5 Bridge Street on Friday 13th July. Featuring some of the county's finest local ingredients guests are in for a treat. Booking essential, £40 per person, includes three course meal and a welcome drink. Tel. 01962 863838.
Location: No. 5 Bridge Street, Winchester, SO23 0HN.

Taste the barley and sniff the hops with Ringwood Brewery on Friday 13th July at their Boar and Beers event. Tour the brewery, tuck into a wild boar hot dog and sup two pints of Ringwood beer (or soft drinks), all for £12. 
Location: Ringwood Brewery, 138 Christchurch Road, Ringwood, BH24 3AP.

On Saturday 14th July Stansted Park Farm Shop is hosting a Pork BBQ. Featuring slow-cooked ribs, hot smoked 6 hour pulled pork, pork sausages, potato salad and garden slaw. From 12pm, limited spaces, booking advisable - 02392 413576.
Location: Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle, PO9 6DX.

Join Hampshire producers for a fun day out at Curdridge Country Show on Saturday 14th July. Traditional crafts, artisan stalls, lots of food and drink and arena events there is fun for all ages.
From 11am-5pm, no booking required, adults £5, concessions £3, family ticket (2 adults 2 concessions) £13.
Location: Curdridge Reading Rooms and Recreation Ground, Reading Room Lane, SO32 2HE.

Local gin, beer and wine all in one day! Join Grape & Grain Tours as they take you on a tour of Itchen Valley Brewery Winchester Distillery and Hattingley Valley Wines on Saturday 14th July. Luxury transport provided from Winchester Railway Station, two-course gastro pub lunch included. Limited spaces, £99 per person, booking essential 07429 498423.

The Lavender Fields in Selborne, Alton will open their gates this weekend (14th and 15th July) for more tours, cream teas and tractor and trailer rides! Open 11am-4pm, £4 per person, children under 12 go free, no need to book.
Location: Hartley Park Farm, Selborne Road, Alton GU34 3HP.

Tour and taste the wine of one of Hampshire's award-winning vineyards, Jenkyn Place Vineyard (pictured left) on Saturday 14th (11am), Thursday 19th (6pm) and Thursday 26th July (6pm). Booking essential, £15 per person.
Location: Jenkyn Place Vineyard, Hole Lane, Bentley GU10 5LU.

Entertain the little ones this weekend with Kids' Cookery at The Bugle Hamble with Fresh Kitchen - Cookery School. 11am-1pm for 4-6 year olds, 2pm-4pm for 7-12 year olds. Booking essential, £15 per person, tel 07718 912908. 
Location: The Bugle, High Street, SO31 4HA.

Learn about English wine with Berry Bros. & Rudd in Basingstoke on Saturday 14th July. From 2-3pm master sommelier, Laura Rhys will guide you through Gusbourne Estate's finest wines. Free entry, booking essential - warehouseshop@bbr.com.
Location: Hamilton Close, Houndmills, RG21 6YB.

The popular pop-up restaurant will re-open Saturday and Sunday this weekend at JS Fresh Fish. A £20 cover charge will include side dishes and sauces, a glass of Chalkdown Sparkling Cider or a soft drink, tea, coffee and one of John’s famous homemade “Chocolate Brownies. Purchase your fish from the impressive range and hand it to the guest chef to cook just as you like it!
Open 12pm-3pm, booking essential - 02380 268525.
Location: Building 5, Shamrock Quay, Southampton SO14 5QL.

Join The Hampshire Jam and Chutney Company near Winchester for some jamming on 14th, 21st, 25th and 28th July. Learn how to make or improve your jams and chutneys. From 9.30am-12.30pm or 2.30pm-5.30pm, booking essential, £40 for jam or £70 for jam and chutney.
Booking - 01962 713553.

Relax to live music at Titchfield Vineyard on Sunday 15th July, 4pm-8pm. Enjoy real ales, a gin and sparkling wine bar, New Forest Ice-Cream, Titchfield Vineyard Wine and new to this year there will be the opportunity to pre-order a cheese or Afternoon Tea picnic box (£8). 
Booking essential, £15 per person, tel 01489 588255.
Location: Misty Haze, Brownwich Lane, Titchfield, PO14 4NZ.

Hattingley Valley Wines at A Celebration of Hampshire at King's Head Hursley, credit The Electric Eye Photography