THE 11th Haslemere Food Festival saw more visitors than ever visit Lion Green to sample the variety of local food and drink from an array of award winning producers, last Saturday.

The green was packed with more than 30 stalls selling cheese, English sparkling, white and rose wine, beer, organic meat, fish, bread, fudge and chocolate, hot food and drinks, sauces, oils and chutneys, pies, cakes and ice creams.

Alongside there was live music, fairground rides and activities for children provided by Molly Moocow, and in the marquee, talks and demonstrations from Gimblett Cheese Company, Stopham Vineyard, Blackdown Cellar vodka, vermouth and gin, and a demonstration by Gisela Mason, winner of last year’s Haslemere Bake Off, of her “Blackdown” Forest gateau made using local blackberries and Lurgashall Winery bramble liquor.

Simon Goodman, head chef at The Duke of Cumberland, demonstrated how to assemble and decorate the cake, while the honour of cutting the cake for the crowd went to the Burgermeister – or mayor – of Horb-am-Neckar, Jan Zeitler.

A delegation from the German twin town was visiting Haslemere, commemorating 25 years of friendship between the two towns, and afterwards planted a lime tree donated by Horb am Neckar on Lion Green – see page five.

Antoinette Francis, speaking on behalf of the festival committee, said: “Despite the weather not necessarily being on our side, it was lovely to see so many people visiting the Haslemere Food Festival this year, both local and from further afield, who clearly had a great time tucking into the delicious foods and drinks on offer.

“I would like to thank everyone who helped not only in delivering this amazing event but also those who turned up to support it.

“There was a tremendous feeling of goodwill and a sense of community spirit that all contributed to making this event a real success.”

Among the stalls at this year’s event were: Dylan’s Ice Cream, Stopham Vineyards, cheese from Flavour Tastings and Events, Ladda Thai Cuisine, Cook Trading, CaraGordaCantina street food, A Sweet Affair, Blackdown Ridge wine, Gimblett Cheese, Ollo Foods curries and sauces, Langham Brewery,Savage and Bean burgers and coffee, SS Patisserie, Kokoh Chocolates, Ding Dong Desserts, Haslemere Cellar cheese and charcuterie, Simon’s Pies, Lallapollosa Baking, Nosh Plus meat and pulled pork, Sicilian Kitchen, Harveys Poultry, Biltong Demon, Olives and Things, Upperton Wine, Catch Isle of Wight seafood, Imbhams Granary, Riverford organic vegetables, Strudwicks Fudge, Anthea’s Cakes, Haslemere Sweet Shop, The Granary bread and the Haslemere Herald.

Volunteers Nicky Bates and David Matthews from Surrey Green Network were also on hand giving advice on recycling and composting, coinciding with Recycling Week.