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Food & Drink Events

West Dorset is renowned for its local produce, and there is no better way to discover it than at an event dedicated to the delectable delights of the region.

Apple Day
October sees a variety of events and activities celebrating the most quintessential of English fruits - the apple. The day includes a variety of unique activites, and seeks to encourage a greater support of local produce.

Dorset Food Week
This county-wide event is a celebration of Dorset's abundance of local producers and their tasty wares. Many outlets, including the area's Tourist Information Centres, offer free food-tasting sessions, showcasing the very best of the region's produce. Dorset Food Week also encompasses demonstrations, workshops,competitions and an innovative food film festival.

Bridport Food Festival This annual celebration takes place between 27th-29th June 2008. Bridport is renowned for its commitment to local and organic produce, the Food Festival provides the perfect opportunity to sample some of West Dorset's finest local delicacies.

The World Stinging Nettle Eating Competition
This unusual competition is held at the Bottle Inn, Marshwood, and has recently applied for Guinness World Record status. The 2007 champion, a local graphic designer, managed to consume 56 feet of nettles in an hour!

Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival
13th-14th September 2008 sees Struminster Newton host their tenth annual Cheese Festival - a celebration of local cheeses and other food produce, featuring cookery and cheese-making demonstrations.

Workshops & Demonstrations
TV chef Lesley Waters runs very popular masterclasses and demonstrations at her Cookery School in Evershot. At the end of each course, all are invited to sit down to a meal together and discover that the proof of the pudding truly is in the eating.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage HQ offers a series of courses, ranging from catching and cooking your meal, to tips on using home-grown fruit and vegetables in delicious seasonal recipes.

For more information please visit one of our Tourist Information Centres.