Alfresco Food Festivals
Alfresco Food Festivals
Our food festival runs twice a year, in spring and autumn, and the next one is on 12th September 2010. It is held in the Parkland that surrounds the hotel and in essence the Spring event celebrates new life and the Autumn event celebrates the harvest.
The concept of the event is to bring to life the connection between the Yorkshire countryside, the ingredients growing in it, and the food on our plates – showcasing “gate to plate” in our beautiful surroundings.
Cookery Demonstrations and ‘Hands On’ Cooking
Yorkshire produce is on sale in the Gourmet Food Marquee, along with a demonstration cookery theatre running demonstrations throughout the day. In September, the chefs demonstrating are Robert Taylor (Swinton Park Cookery School Head Chef), John Rogers from the hotel restaurant at Swinton Park, and Stephanie Moon, the Deliciously Yorkshire champion.
Food producers also run demonstrations throughout the day, with hands on opportunities for visitors – such as making sausages with Masham Sausage Shop, rolling your own sushi with Simon Phillips, butter making with Wensleydale Creamery, gingerbread house making with The Gingerbread House, and also learning how to pluck and dress a game bird with Richard Townsend of Yorkshire Game.
Alfresco Kitchens and Guided Tours
The focus is very much on food throughout the day, with alfresco kitchens set up at the clay oven beside deer house, in the parkland and woodland overlooking the lakes, and in the walled garden. We normally offer a three course meal, with different courses being served at each kitchen, along with morning coffee, afternoon tea and cake at the Full Moon Cafe. Every dish champions Yorkshire produce, sourced either from the parkland, our walled garden or surrounding countryside, or wild food foraged from the estate.
Tours on Foraging for Wild Food in the parkland and Growing Your Own Produce in the Walled Garden run at scheduled times in the grounds throughout the day.
Artists in Residence
Join the artists Sue Moffit, Ian Scott-Massie and Chris Moss at the Deer House to watch them at work and to try your hand at learning some new skills.
Award winning artist, Sue Moffitt has become recognised for her
characterful portrait paintings of cows, having been featured on BBC's
Countryfile, ITV's Dales Diary and BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour, and most
recently elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Artists. Her family
has farmed for generations in the North of England, and she is truly at
home in the countryside. Sue graduated with a degree in Fine Art and although
she has painted all her life, she took this up professionally and full
time for the past 10 years. Her work is exhibited in selected galleries
around the UK and the demand for her unique style portraits has spread
around the UK and internationally. A selection of her limited edition
prints and recently produced "Moff" merchandise will be available for
sale throughout the day. Prices start at £10.00.
Sue will be next to a pen with a Dexter cow for the day, painting a portrait
that visitors can help her with, and also offering visitors the opportunity
to have a go at painting their own canvas (£12 per person).
Ian Scott-Massie studied music and drama at Durham University and began selling work shortly after. Although initially an artist in oils and acrylics he began painting in watercolour on moving to Wensleydale in 1987. Originally his approach to landscape painting was heavily influenced by the philosophy of the English artist Paul Nash and, like him, Scott strives to invest his work with the personality of the landscape he is portraying. Similarly he regards his abstract work as a continuation of the ideas of the New York 'abstract expressionist' school. A selection of Scott's watercolours will be available for sale on the day, and visitors can also have a go at painting a still life of harvest produce in watercolour (£7 per go)
Chris Moss graduated in Fine Art Painting, but later began working in three dimensions, and now uses wire as a medium in its own right. Anatomy, mass and bone structure can all be implied with a few carefully formed strands and the natural tension of hard drawn wire, used in long arcs and broad circles, conveys energy, dynamism and movement. Her art has been widely displayed, and we are thrilled that she can join us at Alfresco. She will be creating sculptures of sheep on the day, with two in pens to work from, and will have gallery space with several animals for sale on the day (from £85 upwards). Visitors on the day can try their hand at wire sculpting, working from a length of wire to create a small sheep. (£7 per go).
Craft & Country Activities
There is also an Artisan Craft area at the Full Moon Cafe, with opportunities for visitors to learn rural skills such as making garlands, infusion blending, and glass painting.
Children’s Activities
Children are also well catered for with the hands on cooking experiences, arts and crafts, face painting, pony rides and falconry displays. The Masham Young Farmers will also be putting on entertainment (ferret racing and their dunking stool), and with Farm Adventure, adults can have a go a driving a tractor around a course, with rides also available for children.
Twilight Event
The day also extends into a Twilight Event, running from 4.00pm - 8.30pm with live music, bar, entertainment and barbecue at the Deerhouse. Details of the bands playing are as follows:
The Conspirators
Bringing a most exciting acoustic live show to this year's Alfresco food
festival are local stars The Conspirators. The band first shot to fame
in 2007 by hitting the top of the US Independent Charts with 'Turning
Green'. Since then they have hit the top ten of the UK Radio 1 Indie chart,
and have been touring/working with the likes of Ocean Colour Scene, Dodgy
and Fairport Convention! The band are currently recording their first
album, one of the most hotly anticipated releases around. Be prepared
to dance and sing and be completely involved with one of the most enjoyable
live shows you will see. Upbeat, Summer tunes gloriously performed. Don't
miss it!
Trio Gitan
In part reminiscent of the hot club music of Stephane Grappelli and Django
Rheinhardt, but also flavoured with with soulful tangos, exotic gypsy
tunes from eastern europe, and classics of the swing era from the great
American songbook. Evocative and poignant violin from Andy Lawrenson,
exciting and skillful acoustic guitar work from Jack Burge, underpinned
by accomplished and tasteful double bass lines from Rob Steels/Dominic
Rivron. From frenetic full on swing jazz to atmospheric and soulful Tangos
and Gypsy tunes, this is Exciting, Exotic and Dynamic stuff at it's best!
Timings, Tickets and How to Find Us
The day festival runs from 11.00am - 4.00pm, and the twilight festival from 4.00pm - 8.30pm..
Entry Tickets:
Day Ticket (entry only) - £5.00
Twilight Ticket (entry only) - £5.00
No entry charge for children aged 3 yrs and under.
Day Time Food:
£5 for the three course meal (or £2 per course)
£3 for tea or coffee with cake
Twilight Food:
£5 for soup and a burger
Most of the demonstrations, tours and displays are included within the ticket price, with a small charge applying in a few cases. The Real Ale Bar at the Deerhouse and the Full Moon Cafe in the woodland will be serving refreshments all day.
To find your way to the festival, follow the signs through Masham to the entrance gates to Swinton Park, but continue on up the hill with the parkland walls on your right. Continue around a corner to the right and the entrance to the festival is through the large green gates on your right. Parking is in the field, with disabled parking nearby to the Deer House and ticket office.
Please note that this is an outdoor event (although there are marquees and the deerhouse to provide seating and shelter from the elements), and outdoor clothing is recommended. The culinary trail is about 1.5 miles long, with alfresco kitchens and entertainment en route, and a great deal more to see and do at the deerhouse. There is a landrover shuttle for those who want avoid some of the walk, and there is disabled access to the Walled Garden where there is an alfresco kitchen and guided tour.
For guests wanting to stay at the hotel on the evening of the festival, please contact us if you would like to enquire about rates, or book festival tickets in advance.
Booking & Entry Forms
LAST MINUTE SPECIAL OFFERS
See our Last minute special offers page for details of some great deals in the next few days.
Hotel of the
Year 2004. White Rose Outstanding Customer Service Award 2006.
With 4 AA Red Stars and 3 AA Rosettes, Swinton Park is one of the highest rated hotels in Yorkshire and Cumbria