The food festival was established by a local chef and a farmer, Chris Coubrough and Teddy Maufe, to promote small local producers and up-and-coming chefs. Nothing more, nothing less. Almost 15 years later, the aim remains the same. As a not-for-profit organisation, the festival, run by a small group of volunteers, gives a platform to more than 12,000 visitors over a two-day period to artisan producers and chefs based primarily in north Norfolk.

A key part of this philosophy is the festival’s free entry.

The committee seeks out new and upcoming producers as well as welcoming back more established names, who often, of course, started at the festival. The Cookery Theatre invites newly established chefs, home cooks, cookery school owners plus local producers onto its stage to demonstrate how to cook delicious dishes with their particular products. There’s always an emphasis on using local, seasonal produce, and many unusual dishes have been created over the years by chefs, including Michael Chamberlain from the Holkham Estate.

Our aims

• To support the local economy and reduce food miles by promoting the sale of local produce
• To draw attention to the close relationship between food producers and the surrounding countryside
• To celebrate the region’s rich larder, including both food and drink
• To promote the region’s great shops, restaurants, hotels, holiday accommodation, and tourism spots