Christmas at England's greatest Elizabethan house - Burghley

Christmas at Burghley

Christmas will be even more sparkling this year at England’s greatest Elizabethan house – with a free craft fair, extra seasonal shopping and a feast of festive food.

Dressed for the occasion, Burghley House, on the edge of Stamford, will have more Christmas decorations than ever before, while this year the annual Craft Fair will move to the House, adding to the festive feel around the cobbled courtyards.

For 2014, the Burghley Christmas Fair, run by the Rural Crafts Association, has been brought up the House and will nestle within the Brewhouse and courtyard, close to Burghley’s Orangery restaurant and shops. Entry this year is free of charge and stalls will feature unique textiles, unusual sculptures, artisan chocolates, jewellery and cashmere and silk pashminas (27-30 November, 9am until 5pm and 4pm on Sunday).

Also over that weekend, the free-to-enter Christmas Fine Food Market returns to offer visitors even more tasty treats. A celebration of local produce, stall holders will be selling local cheese, meats, cupcakes, cider and much more in the festively decorated courtyards, Saturday 29th November - Sunday 30th November.

Or how about Christmas carols in the intimate surroundings of the family Chapel within the House? What more traditional way to begin festive celebrations than at the Chapel Carol Concert with music spanning the House’s five centuries of history. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served in the candlelit Old Kitchen during the interval. (Sunday 14th December). 

For a chance to warm up with some seasonal food and drink, Burghley’s ever-popular Orangery Restaurant - housed in a building that provided space for the family’s love of horticulture and designed by Capability Brown – is now open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am until 4pm, until 21 December.

As well as the autumn and festive menus, a Christmas Afternoon Tea (available 19 November - 21 December) features turkey and cranberry or Stilton and red onion marmalade sandwiches, cranberry and white chocolate blondie and dark chocolate yule log.

For a spot of retail therapy, Burghley's Courtyard Shop is also open while extra seasonal shopping will again be available at the special Christmas Shop in the Brewhouse offering a selection of decorations, festive lighting, winter fragrances, chocolates and cosy winter accessories. Both shops open Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 4pm, until 21 December.

While the house may be closed for winter, Burghley's parkland, with its resident herd of deer, remains open with free entry right through the year - perfect for winter walks or a chance to blow away the Christmas cobwebs.

For full details, opening times and to book tickets, see www.burghley.co.uk

Fine food treat at Burghley, England’s greatest Elizabethan house

Burghley House

Stately food will be on offer during the August Bank Holiday at Burghley Fine Food Market staged against the backdrop of one of England’s grandest Elizabethan houses. 

The cobbled Courtyard at Burghley, on the edge of the Georgian stone town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, will provide the stately setting for the free admission event, a celebration of local produce. More than 20 local quality food producers will set up stalls selling regional and award-winning specialities ranging from home made cupcakes, cheese and bread to vegetables and meat, creating a relaxed, but bustling market atmosphere. 

The House and gardens will be open as usual, with self-guided tours of the magnificent staterooms and huge collection of works of art in the House, which has been the home of the Cecil family for over 400 years. For a splash of summer fun the family-favourite Garden of Surprises offers a chance for youngsters to cool off amidst the 32 water features of the Tudor-inspired ‘trick’ garden. 

Fine Food Market - open 10am-4pm; free admission; 01780 752451
www.burghley.co.uk

Four Days of Delicious Delights at the Chatsworth Food and Drink Fair 1 & 2 June and 8 & 9 June

The Chatsworth Food and Drink Fair is back bigger and better than ever this year with four days of mouthwatering treats on offer on 1-2 and 8-9 June.

The annual foodie event takes place on the hill below the Stables and gives visitors the opportunity to sample a mouth watering selection of the best food and drink on offer in the region.

More than 60 stalls will feature gourmet delights, seasonal specialities and dining accessories alongside a whole array of tempting delights to enjoy on the day as well as to take home. Look out for homemade ice cream being sold from tricycles; sample medieval drinks brewed from plants and take home some artisan bread from the Chatsworth Farm Shop.

Choose from artisan cheeses; sweet and savoury puff pastry tarts topped with local produce; homemade pies; cured meats and plenty of pickles and chutneys. For the sweet toothed, there will be heritage puddings; homemade crumbly fudge; cakes and biscuits. On the drinks front, there will be gin and vodka liqueurs; sloe gin and blackcherry liqueur; a range of whiskeys and bottle conditioned beers.

The award winning Chatsworth Farm Shop will be bringing some of the highlights from its range of quality produce to the fair. The new head baker Roger Coulson will also be taking along its wonderful range of breads, tarts, cakes and biscuits produced by the team of inventive bakers who create different specialty breads each week, inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Face painters will be on hand to keep the kids happy while the adults indulge their tastebuds.

Chatsworth Food and Drink Fair is open 10am to 5pm on 1,2,8,9 June. £3 parking charge applies. For more information, visit www.chatsworth.org


Chatsworth is a member of the Treasure Houses of England, 10 of the most magnificent palaces, stately homes and castles in England. www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Top Chefs Show Their Skills at the Chatsworth Food and Drink Fair April 21 & 22

Top chefs, butchers and bakers will be sharing their skills at the Chatsworth Food and Drink Fair for the first time this year with the introduction of the AGA Rangemaster Cookery Theatre alongside the wonderful array of stallholders at the weekend event on April 21 & 22. 

The starry line-up includes Dan Brazill, Chatsworth’s executive chef; Alan Hill, Chef Patron for both The Devonshire Arms at Pilsley and The Devonshire Arms at Beeley and Michelin Chef Steve Smith from the Burlington Restaurant at the Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel, Bolton Abbey. Butcher Graham Booth will be joined by three bakers – James Brough, James Mettam and Chatsworth apprentice Chloe Empson - from the award winning Farm Shop to complete the expertise on show.

Demonstrations will take place at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm in the new AGA Rangemaster Cookery Theatre on Lodge Hill throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Alan Hill joined Devonshire Hotels in 2006 and became Patron Chef a year later, bringing a whole new approach to the kitchens, revamping menus and ensuring the use of local produce from quality suppliers, including much from the Chatsworth Estate.  He is the recipient of many awards including The Publican Food & Drink Awards 2010 “Chef of the Year” and the Derbyshire Food & Drink Awards 2010 “Gastro Pub of the Year” for The Devonshire Arms at Beeley.

         

Steve Smith joined the Devonshire Arms in April 2008 and very quickly regained the coveted Michelin Star for the Burlington Restaurant.  He brings a wealth of culinary knowledge having worked in and led some of the top kitchens in the country and at 24, was the youngest chef to gain a Michelin star.

Sourcing and nurturing local suppliers and certifying ethical standards of animal husbandry was at the top of the agenda when he first arrived to head up the kitchens at The Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel and Spa.  He has developed the use of the hotel’s own extensive kitchen gardens to provide quality seasonal produce. 

Richard Palmer, Head of Catering and Retail, Chatsworth said: “We are delighted to be welcoming these fantastic chefs, butchers and bakers to the food and drink fair. With the emphasis they place on using the best local produce, they will provide the perfect inspiration for visitors looking for ways to use the wonderful produce on offer.”

Hedgerow jellies, handmade cakes, biscuits, truffles, fudge and chocolate; award winning cheeses; curry sauces, oils, garlic, preserves and homemade ice-cream line up with brandy liqueurs, real ales, ciders, speciality teas and ground coffee.

Produce from the Chatsworth Farm Shop suppliers will be on offer as well as gourmet treats from further afield and a tasty selection of sweet and savoury dishes to enjoy on the day. There is no charge for the fair other than the car park fee of £3 per car. 

House, garden, farmyard and adventure playground are now open until December 23 2012. For more information and ticketing options including a 10 percent discount for online booking, visit www.chatsworth.org

Chatsworth is a member of the Treasure Houses of England, 10 of the most magnificent palaces, stately homes and castles in England. www.treasurehouses.co.uk