Priory Farm Christmas Food Festival

Hot on the heels of being named Surrey's best farm shop, Priory Farm is assembling a multitude of fellow award-winners for its 2016 Christmas Food Festival, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, 26th and 27th November. The free-to-enter event, which draws thousands of families from across Surrey and beyond, will feature 40 food producers over the two days as well as a special appearance by Father Christmas himself.

Getting the festive season off to an appetising start since 2009, the Priory Farm Christmas Food Festival is a must-visit event for food and drink lovers thanks to a stellar line-up of gourmet goodies. Will Edwards, manager of Priory Farm Shop and organiser of the Food Festival, says he loves welcoming back favourite food and drink producers, but aims to have a few new things to discover each year too.

"There are some of our stallholders who are so popular we have them back year after year, but half the fun of the Christmas Food Festival is the opportunity to try food and drink you haven't seen before," he explains. "Whether visitors are coming for the first time, are regular customers or make an annual pilgrimage to the Food Festival, they can be sure of finding something new and different!"

While the full line-up is a closely-guarded secret, stalls this year are set to include craft beers and real ales from Surrey and Sussex breweries alongside locally-made cheeses, bread, pastries and honey. Shoppers can also enjoy free samples and tastings of artisan spirits and liqueurs, handmade sweet treats and gourmet snacks, as well as finding out all about the food and drink directly from the people who make it.

Priory Farm's own butcher will be giving festival-goers a chance to try before they buy, with tasters of its free-range Kentish turkeys available on the day and orders being taken for Christmas meats. But if all the delicious samples on offer aren't enough, local caterers Spade & Spoon will be returning to serve up their slow-roasted meats and imaginative vegetarian dishes to the hungry crowds.

Meanwhile, younger visitors will be eagerly anticipating the arrival of Father Christmas, who will make his arrival over the hill and down the Discovery Walk at 4.30pm on the Saturday.

For more details on the Christmas Food Festival visit www.PrioryFarm.co.uk