“Plenty of food for thought, as well as food to eat, in one of the loveliest bits of Britain” Diana Henry
Having grown from humble beginnings in 2002 into a first class feast of entertainment featuring workshops, seminars, tastings, competitions, demonstrations and over 120 hand-picked exhibitors (70% of which are from Devon), it truly is the very best that the South West has to offer. Described in The Telegraph as a ‘heady mix of celebrity chefs, parties, food markets, tasting shacks and demonstrations’, the festival is now a landmark event on the culinary calendar. What gives us extra stand out is the fact that we’re a free festival. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come along and take part without being charged an entry fee.
© Andy carter
Local & National Heroes
The Festival welcomes many special guests, from internationally renowned chefs to celebrated writers and critics, to provide a huge range of exciting, informative and downright delicious entertainment. Led by our Festival advocate, award-winning chef and restaurateur Mitch Tonks, a spellbinding array of household names ensure the festival is packed with both our local and national food heroes including the top local and regional chefs, Claudia Roden, Mark Hix, Jane Baxter, Richard Bertinet, TV and Radio personalities, Matt Tebbutt, alongside wine experts Will Lyons, Susy Atkins (Sunday Telegraph, Saturday Morning Kitchen).
South West Showcase
Our aim is to showcase the best that the South West has to offer. We also want to shout about our amazing restaurants (The Seahorse, The Angel and Andria’s in Dartmouth, to name but a few) and their amazing chefs. Without being too biased, we probably have the most award winning chefs per square foot than anywhere else in the country. And with an abundance of locally-produced, high quality ingredients and a growing reputation for world-class food, Dartmouth is the perfect setting for what has been described as a ‘feast for the senses’.
Volunteers
The Dartmouth Food Festival is non-profit making so everything you see and experience has been put together by a voluntary team. Not that we’re banging our own drum but we just want you to know that anything you spend over the 3 days either supports local trade or boosts our fundraising efforts. If you’d like to get involved, don’t be shy – just contact us and we’ll be in touch.
Mission Statement
We will deliver an outstanding food festival that promotes Dartmouth as a destination and showcases the very best food and drink experiences in the Southwest.
Our Guiding Principles
1.
Our festival will be free to explore and will encourage a wide audience.
2.
We are a ‘ Not for Profit’ festival that will focus on generating surpluses to reinvest in our festival and our community.
3.
We will educate and inspire, striving to deliver the best independent food festival in the U.K.
4.
We will encourage innovation and diversity and be prepared to try new and interesting ideas.
5.
We will be ethical, safe and focussed on environmental sustainability.
” I should like to congratulate you and everyone involved in the Dartmouth Food Festival, what a great way to showcase our excellent produce. Not only does it bring business into the town but it lifts the entire profile of the South Hams. Occasions like this draw people from far and wide who will hopefully visit us again”
