Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival — The Adventurous Glutton

Put Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th June in your diary, because Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival is BACK. I have joined the organising committee for this year’s event, and I can promise that it’s going to be the best one yet.

Like many other events, Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival was cancelled for not one but two years due to Covid – and coming back after a two-year break is no mean feat. Festival organisers still incurred costs for the two cancelled events, so have been working hard to get extra sponsorship for this year’s event. Thanks to the generosity of a number of local businesses, and the Highcliffe Residents Association who came onboard as the headline sponsor, it’s ON!

It will be held throughout Highcliffe village centre in Lymington Road and on the Recreation Ground. Over 120 traders are already booked, selling everything from biltong, bratwurst and olives to artisan cheese, seafood and gelato. The Little Craft Shack has curated ‘Crafts on the Green’ – a selection of arts and crafts stalls, plus demonstrations and activities.

I’ve got Neil from Drop the Anchor Brewery on board to sell his multi-award-winning beers. His beer is handcrafted in small cask batches using traditional methods, and it’s all vegan (did you know that many brewers use isinglass, or fish bladders, to clarify beer and make the yeast settle?) I’m sure he’ll be bringing a selection of his tipples, ranging from the traditional to more Willy Wonka-esque flavours.

A marquee on the green will house the cookery theatre, sponsored by Christchurch Harbour Hotel. Celebrity chef and author Lesley Waters will appear on the Saturday and multi-Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Novelli will appear on Sunday. They will be joined by a whole host of local chefs over the weekend, from James Golding, Chef Director of The Pig hotel group, Alex Aitken from The Jetty and Luke Matthews from Chewton Glen. And Will Firmin from my favourite, Crow Spotter, will demonstrate how to make delicious plant-based meals.

All this, plus two stages of live music, a treasure hunt and craft activities for the kids, and the return of the ‘Grow Your Own’ tent featuring Highcliffe in Bloom.

Food, fun and festivities by the seaside – who could ask for more?