Ludlow Food and Drink Festival
I can imagine that loads of you have visited this festival? Anyone got any useful tips, and indded suggestions for eating and drinking in Ludlow?
Thanks
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Although you might have to queue for a while to buy your sausage trail ticket, I'd say it's not to be missed. We also did the ale trail which takes you on a lovely amble around Ludlow. There are one off events, and some of the more interesting ones sell out quickly eg a black pudding tasting, so if you can arrive on Friday, you'll probably get the most out of your visit.
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Don't have a big breakfast on Saturday. Sausage Trail is usually the highlight and should keep you fullish till lunch, especially if you also do the Bread Trail. Other than that, just work your way through the various day's events.
There's usually a farmers market on during the weekend so, as well as the main marquee, there'll be plenty of buying opportunities. Butchers will have their competition sausage entries for sale and, of course, it's just getting into the game season so they should have some really good general produce.
If you're going for the full three days, there'll be plenty of time to see and taste everything and do stuff like take afternoon tea at de Greys.
As for eating, Ludlow isnt what it once was with the Merchant House and Hibiscus no longer but La Becasse and Mr Underhills are there - although I suspect you won't get a table at festival time unless you've already booked. The Clive (a couple of miles out of town) might be worth a punt. When we stayed in Ludlow a couple of years back, we went there - at the time they had two restaurants - one more formal than the other and far better. Dinham Hall used to be Good Food Guide rated and, quite rightly, no longer is. There's a goodly number of decent pubs - most of them drinking rather than eating but the sort you'd really want to have just round the corner from home.
Bear in mind the town will be packed. Not only will there be folk who are just in to do their normal shopping (which can make it busy enough) but it will be heaving with festival tourists. Great fun, though - we've enjoyed both visits over the years.
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re: Harters
My first tip would be to go on Friday if possible. It's much quieter and you can easily get round all the stalls without the hordes of Sat and Sun. I don't have Harters' patience re queueing so have never bothered with the sausage trail, but others seem to enjoy it. Get there early to buy a ticket though. Instead we pick at food during the day. A must is The Handmade Scotch Egg company inside one of the tents. They are superb. Last year they had a new champagne tent which also served up some rather good scallops and oysters. I think they are within the Inner Bailey of the castle this year. You will also fine the olive magazine tent in there where there are food demonstrations.
RE Pubs. Take a break at The Church Inn behind the Buttercross and just off the main square. Excellent selection of real ales and one of the stops on the Real Ale Trail. Also take a walk right down Broad Street walk through the Broadgate and cross the bridge to The Charlton Arms. An excellent location overlooking the river to have a pint on one of the decks.
Food We like the Thai called The Globe- it's down the narrow alley opposite De Greys. Havent tried Le Becasse yet, but there is also Fishmore hall. According to http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles... - Mr Underhills is up for sale.
Hope that helps for starters- let me know if you need more. oh, and see you there !
Cheers
Bapi
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re: Harters
John- I am indeed he. I must send you that PM I promised.
Zuriga-It's next weekend- 11-13 September.A few more for you consider. In the town look for the Deli on the Square and The Mousetrap for some excellent cheese.
Within the Castle grounds look out for the Bellota guys for some lovely jamon and for game look for the Willo Game chaps. We bought loads from both last year.
More info here http://www.foodfestival.co.uk/
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re: Bap
And, since we were there a couple of years back, there's the Ludlow Food Centre somewhere just out of town. Big deli/farmshop sort of place I gather.
Generally, look out for the "Local to Ludlow" stickers on produce. Local scheme indicating producer is within a 30 mile radius of town.
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