A tweed which has been the exclusive preserve
of the Holkham Estate gamekeepers for almost ten years is now
being made available to
the public.
The Holkham Estate
has launched a selection of tweed products which features
waistcoats, flat caps, dog beds and doorstops. The clothing
is being made by local gentlemen's tailors, Goddard & Son,
who also make the tweed suits worn by the estate's gamekeepers
on shoot days.
The shop was redesigned in 2010
and has a policy of supporting local artists, producers and
suppliers and is an Associate Member of the Produced in Norfolk
network.
Using the resources of the estate, for
2012 the shop has also introduced a range of corkscrews, bottle
openers, butter knives and cufflinks which are made from the
antlers of the Holkham deer herd. These unusual items sit
alongside works of local art, interesting hats, bags and
jewellery, as well as a range of delicious foods and other
gifts.
Johanna Tennant, retail and projects
manager at Holkham, said: "The shop provides a perfect showcase
for local suppliers demonstrating the high quality of
workmanship and product development which is happening
across Norfolk. Our first stop when sourcing goods for the shop
is the local, small supplier. If we are looking for additional
items, we search within the region or elsewhere in the UK. The
Holkham tweed items are a subtle blend of warm, earthy colours
and are already proving popular with our
visitors."
Visit www.holkham.co.uk for
more information and for details of demonstration days in the
gift shop which include food tastings, book signings and visits
by local artists.
The 2012 North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival, one of the region’s premier local produce events, will be officially launched on Easter Saturday (7th April) in the stunning setting of Creake Abbey, just south of Burnham Market on the North Norfolk Coast.
Now in its third year, the Festival itself will take place on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd September at Holkham Hall, by kind permission of Viscount & Viscountess Coke. This flagship “foodie” event forms part of the county-wide Norfolk Food and Drink Festival which takes place throughout September. With an impressive 8.500 visitors last year, an increase of 68% on its first year, the organisers are seeking 65 stall holders to gather at Holkham Hall for the two day food and drink celebration.
The range of produce is expected to include real ales, fish, meat, honey, chilli products, cakes, fruit, ice cream, cheese, fresh juices and much more. Visitors will also benefit from all of the things to see and do at Holkham Hall. Entry to the Festival is free but a car park charge applies. In a new move for 2012 the festival will offer a food-court area providing everyone with outstanding local food and drink for consumption on site. Children’s activities are also planned.
During the festival weekend the hugely popular Cookery Theatre in its trade-mark octagonal tent in the Courtyard at Holkham Hall will see demonstrations by celebrity chefs, organised and hosted by local food supremo Mary Kemp.
The Easter Saturday launch event will also be the launch-pad for the Festival’s popular Local Food Challenge which has been designed to give chefs, below head chef status, the opportunity to show off their skills and knowledge of local produce and ingredients, the seasons, the producers and the tastes and recipes inspired by their surroundings. It also allows local restaurants and their chefs to promote themselves widely.
The ingredients for the Challenge will be chosen by the chefs on the day, from the 45+ producers at the Creake Abbey Farmers’ Market. Each chef will be given £40 to spend with a shopping basket. Store cupboard ingredients will be provided; four pre-prepared items may be used in each heat.
The mobile cookery theatre will be back at the Creake Abbey Farmers Market and will host the Local Food Challenge heats in May, June, and July with the semi-finals in August. The Final will take place in the Courtyard at Holkham Hall on 2nd September. A panel of distinguished “foodie” judges will make the delicious but difficult decisions regarding who goes through to the next round and, ultimately, who wins.
For the launch on 7th April at the Creake Abbey Farmers’ Market, Mary Kemp has asked Chris Coubrough, TV chef and owner of the Flying Kiwis Inns, and Vanessa Scott, of the multi award-winning Strattons Hotel in Swaffham, to demonstrate their culinary talents using seasonal food.
Once again the organisers are delighted to announce Kettles Foods as lead sponsor. Chairman, Teddy Maufe said “we are delighted to be working in partnership again with this nationally recognised and respected local company”.
Dominic Lowe, Kettle Foods MD says "As a major employer in Norfolk and a supporter of the local produce and agricultural community, we are proud to be sponsoring the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival once again this year. We are passionate about helping to support our local community and enjoy the opportunity of sharing our great tasting KETTLE® Chips with Norfolk consumers. We look forward to another great festival."
The North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival is organised by a Festival Committee on behalf of the North Norfolk Business Forum and is supported by the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) which is funded by Defra and the EU. The project is being delivered through the East of England Development Agency.
Festival sponsors
Headline sponsor: Kettle Foods, Venue sponsor: Holkham Hall, Drinks sponsor: The Real Ale Shop. Other sponsors include Norfolk Food and Drink Festival, Crisp Maltings, The Flying Kiwi Inns, British Sugar, Handelsbanken, Morton’s Event Hire, NFU Mutual, Mary Kemp Cookery Days and Creake Abbey
The mobile cookery theatre
Provided by www.cookerylive.com from Norwich
North Norfolk Business Forum
NNBF is a business-led body formed to support and promote the region’s range of mainly small to medium sized enterprises. Its aim is to provide a business voice to lobby and influence at local regional and national levels on issues that affect the success and prosperity of both employers and employees.
Norfolk Food and Drink Festival
The North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival forms part of the county-wide Eastern Daily Press Adnams Norfolk Food and Drink Festival in association with Norfolk County Council. Taking place throughout September, it is the largest event of its kind in the UK.
