TRY a new wine, have a meal on a double decker bus, bake your own bread or eat the hottest chilli in the Melksham Food and Drink Festival this September! 
The organisers of Melksham’s fifth Food and Drink Festival have been working harder than ever this year to provide a tasty and exciting range of events throughout Food Festival week, and are grateful to Sainsbury’s for being the headline sponsor again this year.
The week starts on Friday 6th September with Littlefest – a mini festival in the Littlebrook Centre featuring samples from Waitrose, biscuit decorating at Candy Jax, tasters at Mamma Mias and ‘Death by Chocolate’ – a murder mystery evening at CJs Cafe. The winning photographs of the ‘Fun with Food’ photo competition will be displayed at Andy York Photography (if you would like to enter, get in touch with Andy York in the Littlebrook Centre).
Following the success of last year’s event, on Saturday 7th September, Well House Manor will again host its popular Edwardian Afternoon of Pimms and Croquet between 12-4pm with Swindon Croquet Club. Tickets on the door are £4. To finish off a fantastic Saturday, join TV celebrity chef and eco-warrior Dick Strawbridge for an evening of entertaining stories at Melksham Assembly Hall. Tickets are £12.50 on 01225 709887.
Melksham Gardener’s Society Flower and Produce show is the feature for Sunday 8th September, between 2-4.30pm, with entry forms at Flowers In Focus, town hall and tourist information centre.
On Monday 9th September Sainsbury’s host a wine tasting and food matching evening at the town hall at 6.30pm and 8.00pm. Tickets are £5, available at Sainsbury’s and the town hall and go towards charity West Wilts Special Needs Scheme.
Local company Wiltshire Chillies will be providing free samples of locally grown chillies to taste, in the foyer of Sainsbury’s on Tuesday 10th September, between 3-7pm. In the evening a Harvest Supper in aid of Melksham Food Bank takes place at Cleeve House in Seend, 7.30-10pm. Book your place for £7.50 which includes a glass of wine and bread and cheese, and bring a plate to share. For tickets call Pam Wiltshire on 07969902775 or Cleeve House on 01380 827129.
Always a fun and informative event, the Melksham Rotary Food Quiz will take place at the Pilot in Bowerhill on Wednesday 11th September in aid of Dorothy House. Registration is 7.15 for a 7.30pm start and entry is £2.50 per person for a team of four. To book your place call Bruce on 07706 059365.
Again due to popular demand the Safari Supper takes place on Thursday 12th September at £32.50 per person. Booking is essential through the town hall on 01225 704187 as this event is strictly first come first served. Buses leave from the Market Place at 6.30pm and travel to the Bell on the Common for canapés, the Golden Fleece for starters, main course at the Pear Tree and dessert at the Conigre.
Friday 13th September features a cupcake decorating evening with Sarah-Jane Shepherd of Minky Kitten Cakes. The evening is £12.50 and includes a glass of wine or soft drink as well as all the ingredients needed to decorate six cupcakes. Tickets are available at the town hall.
Sunday 15th September kicks off with the Rotary Big Breakfast at the Art House Cafe in aid of local charity Amber. Tickets are £6.50 for a five course breakfast and can be booked in advance.
On Friday 20th September the tourist information centre will host a Pudding Evening at the Adventure Centre with a glass of wine and homemade desserts. Tickets are £7.50 from the TIC on 01225 707424.
The Festival Food Fair on Sunday 15th September in the grounds of Melksham House, always a popular event, is packed with culinary stalls, events and activities. Face of the Festival Jonathan Furby will be sharing his cooking skills, the Sultan Restaurant will demonstrate Indian cooking, and you can walk around sampling diverse delicious delights from chutneys and cheeses to chorizo and truffles, while the children enjoy the bouncy castles, facepainting and storytelling. Wessex Contraband, a three-piece folk band, will be performing throughout the day, with an accomplished sound and humorous delivery.
A fiery highlight will be the Chilli Eating Competition, hosted by Wiltshire Chillies during the Food Festival Fair on Sunday 15th. Competitors are challenged to eat 12 chillies, from mild to wild, with a cash prize for the person who can take the most heat. To enter call 01225 704187 or email foodfesti val@melkshamtown.co.uk.
Also throughout the week local restaurants, pubs and cafes will be taking part in SeptemberFest – a week of special offers to tie in with the festival wherever the Food Festival logo is displayed. The website.
Sainsbury’s is the headline sponsor this year, with support from Bloor Homes, Leekes, West Country Educational Agency, Sign Marketing and a host of local restaurants, cafes and pubs who are getting involved.
For more information and details about tickets, events and participating venues visit www.melk shamfoodfestival.co.uk or call 01225 704187.
