Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival has enjoyed another year of good food, flowing ales and a fantastic atmosphere.
The sun shone on St George’s Square for the four-day event, which saw everything from kangaroo stir-fries to spicy curries and calamari served to hungry visitors.
Then as the sun went down, the square came to life with live music at Festival at Dusk.
This year’s festival was the last one hosted by the Huddersfield Partnership, which is confident the event will return in 2017 with new organisers.
The huge crowds visiting across the weekend certainly prove it’s one of the most popular events on the Huddersfield calendar!
Here’s 10 reasons we want Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival back in 2017:
1. The food is fantastic
There’s cuisines from all over the world, from exotic curries and noodle dishes to Mexican burritos, Spanish tapas, Greek gyros and French crepes — as well as traditional Yorkshire grub including pork pies, pasties and even filled Yorkshire puddings! Sometimes the hardest part is choosing what to have...
2. The bars ain’t half-bad either
From cocktail bars to Huddersfield pubs and breweries from further afield, the drinks are soon flowing once the festival gets underway. What could be better than enjoying a nice cold beer with some tasty food in the sunshine? This year saw Armitage Bridge Monkey Club, the Star Inn and Bourbon Brothers all set up camp in St George’s Square. Huddersfield Town fans celebrated Saturday’s win with a pint (or two) or Wagner’s Gold, a special brew by Mallinsons, from the Monkey Club!
3. It’s great for trying new things
Just follow your nose and see which food festival smells entice you. Perhaps you fancy kangaroo stir fry from Temujin, or halloumi gyros from the Greek Street Food stall? Try a taste of the far east at Dapur Malaysia or a juicy venison burger from The Yorkshire Venison Centre. It’s a great opportunity to see which foods tickle your tastebuds!
4. St George’s Square comes to life
St George’s Square may see the hustle and bustle of commuters on a daily basis, but nothing beats seeing the sea of revellers at the festival as you step out of Huddersfield Railway Station. From day one of this year’s event the benches in the square were full of people enjoying themselves — and by Saturday the festival was bursting at the seams!
5. You always go home with something delicious
It’s not just what you scoff on the day — it’s the treats you get to take home with you! From flavoured vodkas to cupcakes, artisan cheeses and even veg boxes, the shopping opportunities at this year’s festival were mouth-wateringly good.
6. Festival at Dusk rocks
As the sun set over St George’s Square, a party atmosphere took over as bands took to the Festival at Dusk stage. After a day of eating and drinking, visitors were dancing in the square to the likes of Helter Skelter, Storm and other local acts.
7. The Demo Kitchen can teach us all a thing or two
From chef cook-offs to hints and tips from Great British Bake Off star, this year’s Demo Kitchen offered a wealth of culinary expertise for visitors. Not only can you enjoy tasty food and drink over the weekend — you can learn how to make amazing dishes at home too.
8. It showcases Huddersfield’s foodie talent
At the heart of the festival is Huddersfield’s most popular restaurants, pop-up food stalls, pubs and farm shops, all in one place. The festival gives food and drink businesses from across Yorkshire a platform — you might discover a brand you didn’t know existed.
9. It has a brilliant setting
St George’s Square is a marvellous part of town — what with the beautiful architecture that surrounds it and the proud statue of Harold Wilson in the middle — and it makes for a fantastic setting for the festival. There’s ease of access via Huddersfield Railway Station, the gentle slope gives everyone a cracking view of the bands at Festival of Dusk, and it couldn’t be easier for people out of town to find.
10. It brings people to Huddersfield
It’s not just us who love the Food and Drink Festival — people venture into Huddersfield from all over to sample its wares. Our columnist Paul Routledge visited on Saturday. He said: “One family came all the way from Melbourne, Australia. I came from t’other side of Keighley, which takes a bit longer but the shlep was worth it.”
With the train station so close by, it’s a great event for showcasing Huddersfield to people who may not have visited before — but might return as a result!
