Padstow prepares for its hottest winter festival

Published November 18th, 2014

The final details have been announced for the seventh annual Padstow Christmas Festival, which takes place from 4 to 7 December 2014.

Free to attend, Padstow Christmas Festival is where world-class chefs and local artisan producers come together around the town’s harbour to enjoy four days of top class demonstrations, entertainment and festive food and drink.

The event will feature 64 cookery demonstrations and workshops, which start from midday on Thursday 4 December across the Sharp’s Brewery Demonstration Theatre and separate Festival Kitchen. A star line-up of chefs including Rick Stein, Paul Ainsworth, Nathan Outlaw, Angela Hartnett, Mitch Tonks and Mark Hix will be preparing a range of signature dishes in front of live audiences.

Event organiser, Tina Evans, said: “This is our biggest event to date with more than 40,000 visitors expected to join us for the festival.

“Alongside a packed schedule of demos, we’ll have a spectacular fireworks display, lantern parade, Narnia-inspired grotto, activities for children, pop-up food stalls and live music.”

Celebrity chefs Phil Vickery and Brian Turner will be going head-to-head in a cook off challenge on Saturday 6 December at 10am presented by TV’s Fern Britton.

Ed Hughes, Beer Sommelier for Sharps Brewery, will be sharing his specialist knowledge of the industry in a unique beer and food pairing session at 2pm on Friday 5 December. Audience members will be given a selection of Sharp’s finest brews to sample with matching light bites cooked by The Mariners executive chef Paul Ripley.

Speaking about Sharp’s exhibits’ at the festival, Ed said: “We’re really proud to be lead sponsor of Padstow Christmas Festival. After the Food and Beer Masterclass, I’ll be hosting three more demos in the Festival Kitchen – giving Beer Tasting Tutorial Sessions at 3:45pm every day. I’ll be talking about a range of beer brands, not just Sharp’s. On top of four demonstrations, and two Sharp’s stands, our new secretive ‘Crate’ experience will also be cast adrift somewhere at the festival and visitors can hunt it down to get involved.”

“We’ll be offering samples of our famous beers, and sharing ideas about well-blended food and drink flavours. It will be perfect for anyone who’s looking for new and unique ideas for their Christmas celebrations.”

2014 also sees the return of Padstow’s traditional Christmas market with more than 100 stalls from South West crafts folk and food producers. Local boutique shops in the town will remain open for extended hours offering special discounts throughout the event.

For more information and to see a full programme of events, visit www.padstowchristmasfestival.co.uk.

Thursday highlights:

• Cooking by apprentices from Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall – 12pm in The Festival Kitchen.
• Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth and Paul Dodd chef demo – 4pm in the Sharp’s Brewery Demonstration Theatre.

Friday highlights:

• TV chefs Rick Stein and Brian Turner – 1.30pm in The Festival Kitchen.
• Interior designer Teri Walter leads a ‘tart up your table’ workshop followed by cocktails from Tarquins Gin – 5.15pm in The Festival Kitchen.
• Food forum at 5.45pm in the Sharp’s Brewery Demonstration Theatre.
• Cookery demo by renown chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder – 6.45pm in the Sharp’s Brewery Demonstration Theatre.
• Lantern parade, the arrival of Father Christmas on a horse-drawn Victorian coach followed by a fireworks display over the harbour from 6pm.

Saturday highlights:

• Santa fun run in aid of Cornwall hospice Care – 1pm.
• Food and drink demo from St Austell Brewery – 1.30pm in the Festival Kitchen.
• Food and drink demo from Sharp’s Brewery – 3.45pm in the Festival Kitchen.
• Cook off between TV chefs Phil Vickery and Brian Turner with Fern Britton – 10am in the Sharp’s Brewery Demonstration Theatre.
• Cookery demo from Ashley Palmer-Watts, executive chef of Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck group – 12.45pm in the Sharp’s Brewery Demonstration Theatre.

Sunday highlights:

• ‘Make it, bake it, eat it’ How to crimp a pasty from The Chough – 10.30am in the Festival Kitchen.
• Cookery demo from Ben Bass, head chef at the Old Quay Hotel in Fowey – 12.00pm in the Festival Kitchen.
• Cookery demo from renown chefs Mitch Tonks and Mark Hix – 12.30pm in the Sharp’s Brewery Demonstration Theatre.
• Cookery demo from Cornwall’s  two michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw – 1.30pm in the Sharp’s Brewery Demonstration Theatre.