Food and Drink / Food & Drink News / The 11th Lancashire Food Festival - Special Guests 'The Hairy Bikers'

The 11th Lancashire Food Festival - Special Guests 'The Hairy Bikers'

This year's Lancashire Food and Drink Festival in Accrington features special guests Simon King and David Myers aka The Hairy Bikers (on Saturday 5 April only)

The full festival is on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April. Admission is £1- under 16 free when accompanied by an adult. The venue is Accrington's Town Hall from 10am to 3.30pm on both days.

Lancashire has a huge selection of traditional food favourites ranging from black pudding to the famous Lancashire hotpot, but you'll find lots more than these local delights at the Festival.

The Festival features a whole host of food to sample and buy in the Festival Hall and Marquee, including traditional Lancashire foodstuffs alongside more exotic and international treats.

You will be able to pick up a few tips at one of the cookery demonstrations in the cookery theatre which went down a treat last year. There will be street music and dancing, and a Festival cafe for when you need a well-earned rest.

The Hairy Bikers Simon King and David Myers will be making a special appearance on the Saturday to open the Festival.

They will be appearing in the cookery theatre and taking time to wander round the stalls chatting to as many people as they can! The pair started out in very different fields to cookery - Dave joined the BBC as a make-up artist, specialising in prosthetics, and went on to work on numerous feature films and high- profile television series including the hit series 'Spooks'.

It was during his extensive travels away from work that Dave began picking up recipes and culture almost as fast as he made friends with Simon who became his travelling companion and the other half of the Hairy Biker duo.

Simon also started out in film and television as a First Assistant Director and Locations Manager including working on the `Harry Potter` series of films, however his passions lie elsewhere...

A love of food was encouraged early by Si's father, who would bring back exotic ingredients from his voyages with the Royal Navy, and Simon's enthusiasm is matched by his own children's willingness to try new kinds of food. Visit their website for more information.

Philippa James, now a regular at the Festival will be cooking `up a storm` in the cookery theatre. The last twelve months have seen her appear at over 20 engagements, she ran a gourmet course at Runshaw College, makes regular appearances on BBC Radio Lancashire. She even did a stretch in one of the local prisons teaching inmates how to cook.

Her cookery school in Mawdesley is attracting people from far and wide who want to learn her culinary skills - with the emphasis on local produce. For more information about Philippa James visit her website.

Michael Harrison will also be in the theatre this year. Crowned Lancashire Life's 'Newcomer of the year' in 1997, Michael Harrison is Lancashire born and bred and has over 20 years of experience in the business.

A self-taught enthusiast Michael developed his skills mainly in the North West but his travels have sent him on some culinary adventures to Los Angeles and a stint in Kent. If asked Michael would say his three main influences have been John Benson- Smith, Denis Depoitre and a few hundred books!

Oswaldtwistle Mills, one of the area's main tourist attractions, has also embraced the Festival and have very kindly organised a courtesy bus to ferry customers to and from the two venues. In September 2006 the Mill opened a new food based attraction, The Northern Ingredient Gourmet Visitor Experience, which will be offering something special for the two days of the Festival. Check the website for more details.

So, come along, have a great day out, nibble new taste sensations, and enjoy a traditional warm Lancashire welcome.

The Festival is organised by Leisure In Hyndburn with support from Made in Lancashire, Oswaldtwistle Mills and Hyndburn Borough Council.