Another taste – Rochdale Food & Drink Festival announces 2019 return

Rochdale Food and Drink Festival 2018: Jean-Christophe Novelli with Natasha Brown, of Brown's Cakes

After a successful debut this year, Rochdale’s celebration of all things food and drink is set to spice-up the borough’s events calendar again in 2019.

The date for Rochdale Food & Drink Festival which was held for the first time in 2018 has been confirmed as Saturday 16 March.

The one-day celebration of food and drink will again be held in and around Rochdale Town Hall from 11am to 8pm. Organisers are now on the look-out for top taste bud tickling talent to take part in the event.

The festival will again feature live chef demonstrations inside Rochdale’s world-famous Grade I-listed town hall along with plenty of stalls and activities. There’ll be an outside food and drink village, a seating area to watch chef demonstrations on a big screen, themed foodie workshops plus live music and bars – with lots to offer from nearby local pubs, bars and restaurants.

Details on the 2019 line-up will be revealed from next month, say organisers Rochdale Borough Council.

This year the festival enjoyed an impressive debut, attracting over 4,500 visitors with chef’s including Jean-Christophe Novelli and Nisha Katona. CBeebies ‘I Can Cook’ presenter Katie Ashworth headlined the Family Stage.

Councillor Janet Emsley cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture at Rochdale Borough Council said she welcomes its return: “We have big ambitions for this festival and I am excited to see the date on our 2019 calendar.

"Feedback this year was encouraging, some traders sold out and it was very busy. There are improvements we want to make and we’ll be working to make next year bigger and better with some new elements added. If you are a local foodie business interested in trading at the event, do get in touch with us.”

If you’re interested in having a stall at next year’s festival, email foodfest@rochdale.gov.uk