To coincide with British Food Fortnight, The Autumn Feast brings together producers, growers, retailers, chefs and the buying public to celebrate the very best of British produce. As well as stalls of regional foods and local crafts, there will be cookery demonstrations by local celebrity chefs in “The Mart” cookery theatre, an area which, during the week, houses cattle sales and is the perfect amphitheatre for being able to watch the live demonstrations.

Friday 6th October is a special Schools Day – Jamie Oliver, please note! This is Feast’s answer to educational entertainment and to encourage the children to engage their parents and teachers who are welcome too. Local chefs and cooks will be holding lively discussions and demonstrating healthy eating cooking skills. This is where children, schools’ kitchen staff, teachers and parents can learn first hand how to buy, prepare and enjoy real food, fresh from the local landscape.

Throughout the weekend, a full range of foods will be exhibited from local meats, fruit and vegetables to cheeses, jams, cakes and wine. Bolton Abbey Beef, will be represented as will Adrian Procter’s delicious organic hog roast, along with some of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria’s finest cheese makers.

Also amongst the Autumn Feast exhibitors will be Limestone Country Beef*, which has been developed in conjunction with English Nature, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, 15 local farmers and marketed with the support of Feast.**

Feast Director Rebecca Roberts enthused, “Autumn Feast is a celebration of some of the most fantastic produce available, a time to have fun and learn about all the brilliant foodstuffs available right on our doorstep and even to buy some early gifts for Christmas. North Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Dales has been voted the most beautiful county in England – it also produces some of the best food!”

In addition to the food stalls there will be an opportunity to meet local artists and craftspeople, and take part in hands on practical workshops and demonstrations. There will be musical entertainment plus activities and competitions for children.

Entry tickets are £4.00 in advance or £5.00 on the day, there are reductions for concessions and children under 16 are free of charge when accompanied by an Adult.

Parking is free at the auction mart on the edge of Skipton close to the A59
There will be a free shuttle Bus run from Skipton town centre and the Station to the auction mart

For more information visit www.skiptononline.co.uk

*Limestone Country Beef

The purpose of the limestone country beef was to reintroduce hardy rare breed cattle to the limestone pavements and fells of the Yorkshire Dales where there is an abundance of wildlife, the existence of which was being eroded by the intense sheep grazing. The upside is delicious tasty beef from attractive looking cattle that graze on natural Dales grassland as well as the re-appearance of beautiful alpine grasses and flowers with the birds and insects that are attracted to them.

** Feast

Feast is a food and drink network launched in February 2005, the organisation now has over 100 members, including farmers, growers, producers, processors, retailers, chefs and consumers based throughout the North of England. In July 2006 they opened their 2nd office in the South Nottinghamshire Village of Stanton on the Wolds. Membership offers a range of benefits, from product development to marketing and website design. Feast work with a number of industry partners including the NFU, CLA, DEFRA, Local and regional councils and the Regional Development Agencies. The Company is a non funded private limited company.