Here's a round-up of asparagus festivals taking place during the season. See what's near you and join in the celebrations...
The Cotswolds
Merseyside
Dorset
West Sussex
Oxfordshire
York
The British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham
23rd April-21st June, The Cotswolds
Contact: Angela Tidmarsh on 01386 565373 www.britishasparagusfestival.org
Celebrations begin on 23rd April with The Great English Asparagus Run. The Bretforton Silver Band & Asparagus Auction will be held at The Fleece Inn, Bretforton on 30th May.
The Asparagus Festival Day is 31st May - 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 Asparagus Roadshow with celebrity Henry Sandon.
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 – check the website for latest details.
Claremont Farm Asparagus Events
Contact: Andrew Pimbley on 0151 334 1906
www.claremontfarm.co.uk
Claremont Farm, Old Clatterbridge Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 4JB
Claremont Farm will celebrate the asparagus season by holding a number of events for food-loving visitors.
‘Asparagus Evenings’ will include demonstrations by local chefs and producers. For further information visit the website or contact Andrew Pimbley.
Asparagus is freshly picked daily at Claremont Farm and can be purchased in the farm shop.
Dorset Asparagus
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. The celebration gives diners 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. Contact John Hugo for further information.
Tulleys Farm
For more information call: 01342 718472
www.tulleysfarm.com
Tulleys Farm, Turners Hill Road, Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 4PE
Visitors to Tulleys Farm can enjoy a special asparagus day on Saturday 15 May – a celebration of asparagus including tastings and a special asparagus menu. Call or visit the website for further details.
Wykham Park Farm
For more information on Wykham Park Farm asparagus events please call 01295 262235, email
info@wykhampark.co.uk or visit www.wykhampark.co.uk
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 Fri 7th to Thurs 20th 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.
In addition, its sister restaurant, Meltons – www.meltonsrestaurant.co.uk, is holding a ‘First Saturday Lunch’ in June to celebrate asparagus. Booking is highly recommended.
