Amazing Accrington Food and Drink Festival

Excitement is building for the free-to-attend Amazing Accrington Food and Drink Festival, taking place in Accrington town centre.

Sponsored by Hyndburn Borough Council and Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa, this year's festival promises a packed day of fantastic food, entertainment, live demonstrations and family fun in the heart of Accrington.  Visitors can enjoy live cooking demonstrations from Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa's talented head chef Sean Noonan, alongside award-winning deaf chef, presenter and TV personality Scott Garthwaite.

Widely known as the 'Punk Chef', Scott is celebrated for his bold and vibrant dishes inspired by global street food and over 20 years of professional kitchen experience.  Combining classical training with exciting, accessible flavours, Scott has appeared on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch, the BBC and Lumo TV, while championing accessibility and representation through British Sign Language (BSL).

Festivalgoers can look forward to a mouth-watering selection of dishes throughout the day, including chicken supreme with koffmann cabbage, truffled mash and red wine jus; pan-fried scallops with cauliflower, celery and apple; and Kames Bay trout, served with pickled fennel, samphire and hot tartare sauce finished with caviar.

Adding even more spice to the festival is the brand-new Chilli Challenge hosted by the Dunkenhalgh.  Taking place at 13:30 in the main event gazebo, ten brave contestants will compete to see who can handle increasingly intense chillies round by round.  Anyone wanting to take part can apply by emailing editor@amazingaccrington.co.uk.

The festival will also feature a huge range of food and drink stalls, a continental food market and a brand-new Taste of Hyndburn area showcasing some of the very best local food and drink businesses from across the borough.  

Alongside the food and drink attractions, visitors can enjoy live entertainment throughout the day including 1940s singers and dancers, fairground rides and an impressive military vehicle display.  A special D-Day anniversary procession will also take place at 12:15, marking the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. Led by a historic 1944 BSA M20 motorbike and a lone piper from the world-renowned Accrington Pipe Band, the procession will travel through the town centre before concluding at the Accrington Pals Memorial Garden next to St James' Church, Cannon Street, where a short commemorative service will take place.  The procession will feature representatives from air, sea, army and police cadets, alongside the Royal British Legion, creating a poignant moment of remembrance in the heart of Accrington.  Visitors will also be able to explore an impressive collection of military displays and vehicles throughout the day, including a full-size P51D Mustang, Hurricane Experience, FV107 Scimitar tank, KrAZ-255 Soviet-era off-road truck, WWII jeep, Military Defender 110 and more including a re-enactment at St James' Church at 13:00.  The Hurricane's engine will also run at intervals during the event, offering a unique experience for visitors.