Here's a round-up of Asparagus festivals taking place during the season. See what's near you and join in the celebrations...
Essex
The Cotswolds
Merseyside
Dorset
North Yorkshire
York
West Sussex
Oxfordshire
West Yorkshire
The Asparagus & Music Festival
6th-7th June 2009
Contact: Antony Brew on 01376 563953
Abbey Farm, Abbey Lane, Coggeshall, Essex
Farm gates open from 10:00 am
Cost: TBA
Farmer Antony Brew opens up the farm gates for a two-day celebration at Abbey Farm, Coggeshall which has grown asparagus for 30 years. Enjoy Asparagus tasting in a relaxed dining atmosphere with asparagus-based menus and music from local bands on Saturday and a touch of Jazz on Sunday.
Accommodation can be found locally.
The British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham
23rd April-21st June, The Cotswolds
Contact: Angela Tidmarsh on 01386 565373
Angela.tidmarsh@wychavon.gov.uk
www.britishasparagusfestival.org
Celebrations begin on Thursday the 23rd April with The Great English Asparagus Run, starting at the Bell Tower in Evesham and then there’s The Bretforton Silver Band & Asparagus Auction being held at The Fleece Inn, Bretforton at 7 pm on the 24th May.
Bank Holiday Monday 25th May marks the Asparagus Festival Day at The Fleece Inn. A fun day for all the family is planned with an asparagus farmers market; rural and handicraft fayre; displays and cooking demonstrations and asparagus tastings and meals. Also, not be missed is the Antiques Roadshow with Henry Sandon- bring a piece of china or pottery for him to value for you.
6th & 7th June are joint hosts to the Balloon Festival, Community Safety Day and Classic Cars event on Crown Meadow, Evesham to include a feast of family activities and entertainment with fireworks, fairground rides and Fabulous ‘Night Glow’.
The festival concludes on the 20th-21st June with the Vale Morris, Ale and Cider Weekend in the Vale of Evesham with entertainment and activities throughout the two days.
The fantastic guided ‘Asparabus Tours’ will also be running again this year on the 13th, 20th, 27th May and 3rd June.
A range of other events will also be held around the Vale throughout the festival.
Claremont Farm Asparagus Festival
Date TBA.
Contact: Andrew Pimbley on 0151 334 1906
www.claremontfarm.co.uk
Claremont Farm, Old Clatterbridge Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 4JB
10 am until 2 pm.
Celebrating the Asparagus Season Claremont Farm holds a number of events for food-loving visitors.
The Asparagus Fair sees the Farm’s chef preparing freshly-picked delicious asparagus for tastings. There are demos by local chefs and producers including a soup-maker, Chocolatiere and a baker who will be whipping up delicious soups, and hot bacon and asparagus baps during the day-long event.
Asparagus Weekends are planned throughout the season too with accommodation provided by nearby Mere Brook House www.merebrookhouse.co.uk The weekends involve learning how the asparagus is grown, prepared, cooked and most of all enjoyed!
Asparagus is freshly picked daily at Claremont Farm and can be purchased in the farm shop.
The Dorset Asparagus Festival
For more information call: 01258 857 284
www.coventryarms.co.uk
Contact: John Hugo, The Coventry Arms
Coventry Arms, Mill Street, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, BH21 3RH
Pub opening hours are 8 am–3 pm, 5.30–11 pm Monday to Friday and all day opening Saturday and Sunday
Hosted by the Award-winning Coventry Arms in Corfe Mullen, Dorset.
Held in May a week-long celebration gives dinners the chance to enjoy fresh asparagus in variety of mouth-watering dishes. Asparagus is picked each morning from local growers and the festival menu changes daily.
The Lobster and Asparagus Festival
For more information call: 01423 340284
www.generaltarleton.co.uk
Contact: Chef and Patron, John Topham
The General Tarleton, Boroughbridge Road, Ferrensby, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 OPZ
Guests of The General Tarleton old coaching inn in the pretty village of Ferrensby can enjoy a two-week celebration in May of local asparagus and lobster.
Meltons Too Asparagus Festival
For more information call: 01904 629222
www.meltonstoo.co.uk
Meltons Too, 25 Walmgate, York, YO1 9TX
Highlighting Meltons Too commitment to seasonal and regional food, the modern bistro, known affectionately as ‘Mtoo’, will dedicate a section of its menu to the best Asparagus that Yorkshire has to offer from Friday 8th to Thursday 21st May.
Featuring homemade Yorkshire produce in a charming 17th Century building the restaurant serves bistro style food in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
Open all day, every day, the menus cover brunch, lunch and dinner. All the food is homemade and uses quality regional produce wherever possible.
Tulleys Farm
For more information call: 01342 718472
www.tulleysfarm.com
Tulleys Farm, Turners Hill Road, Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 4PE
Joining in the seasonal celebrations, visitors to Tulleys Farm can enjoy tastings and a special asparagus menu in the team room during the season.
Wykham Park Farm
22nd to 25th May 2009
For more information call 01295 262235 or email info@wykhampark.co.uk or visit www.wykhampark.co.uk
Wykham Park Farm is hosting an asparagus event from the 22nd to the 25th May from 10am – 4pm
There will be opportunities to:
• Attend cookery demonstrations given by Sonya Kidney throughout the day (Sonya is a renowned chef and previous owner of the Marsh Goose, Morton in the Marsh) and try samples
• Buy a selection of asparagus gift items.
• Buy fresh asparagus and asparagus products from our shop. Numerous asparagus recipes and books will be available.
• Visit the asparagus field and see the crop being harvested (weather permitting)
• Visit the grading and packing line.
Admission is free and you may enter a free prize draw to win a selection of asparagus goodies!.
The Yorkshire Asparagus Festival
For more information call: 01422 822291
www.oldbore.co.uk
The Old Bore Bar & Restaurant, Oldham Road, Rishworth, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX6 4QU
The Old Bore at Rishworth will be delighting customers with its delicious asparagus ‘specials’ menu celebrating Yorkshire asparagus growers.
