Last Friday, Gareth was delighted to take to the drinks stage at the Cheshire & North Wales Food & Drink Festival, a lively celebration of some of the very best food and drink producers in the region.
This much-loved event brings together independent businesses, talented chefs, artisan producers, and passionate food lovers for a weekend centred around quality, creativity, and community. For visitors, it is a chance to discover new favourites, hear the stories behind the brands, and enjoy some of the finest local food and drink all in one place.
For us at Walking Food Tours UK, it is exactly the kind of event we love to see thriving – one that shines a light on local flavour, independent businesses, and the people who make the regional food scene so special.
Celebrating Local Food and Drink in Cheshire and North Wales
The Cheshire & North Wales Food & Drink Festival has built a strong reputation for showcasing the richness and variety of the local food and drink scene. From street food and chef demonstrations to artisan producers and drinks specialists, the festival creates a genuine sense of connection between visitors and the people behind the products.
That is a big part of what makes events like this so valuable. They are not just about eating and drinking well – although there is certainly plenty of that. They are also about supporting local producers, discovering regional talent, and giving people a deeper appreciation of the businesses that help define a place.
Across Cheshire and North Wales, there is no shortage of quality when it comes to independent food and drink. Festivals like this help bring that to the forefront and remind people just how much is available on their doorstep.
Gareth on the Drinks Stage
One of the highlights of the day was Gareth hosting the drinks stage, welcoming a brilliant selection of producers and helping share their stories with the crowd.
The drinks stage brought together businesses with very different offerings, but each one had the same thing in common: real passion for what they do and a clear pride in the products they create. It gave festival-goers the opportunity to hear directly from the makers themselves, learn more about their craft, and of course enjoy a few tastings along the way.
And yes, in the name of research, there was a fair amount of sampling involved. A difficult task, but somebody had to do it.
Local Producers in the Spotlight
The lineup on the drinks stage showcased a fantastic mix of regional drinks businesses, each bringing something unique to the festival.
Magic Dragon Brewery
Magic Dragon Brewery served up a range of characterful, locally brewed beers that went down extremely well with the crowd. Known for producing flavour-packed ales with plenty of personality, they brought a great example of the quality brewing talent the region has to offer.
Liquor & Co
Liquor & Co brought energy and flair to the stage with expertly crafted cocktails. Their presentation, creativity, and attention to flavour made them a real crowd-pleaser and added a stylish edge to the drinks programme.
Thinkwine
Thinkwine delighted visitors with Prosecco and sparkling wines, offering something elegant and celebratory for those looking to enjoy a glass of something a little more refined. Their contribution helped round off the drinks lineup beautifully.
The Stories Behind the Drinks
One of the most rewarding parts of the day was hearing the producers talk about their businesses in their own words.
There is always something special about meeting the people behind a product. Whether it is a brewer explaining how a recipe came together, a cocktail specialist discussing ingredients and balance, or a wine expert sharing the thinking behind their range, those personal stories add a whole extra layer to the experience.
That connection is hugely important. It transforms food and drink from something you simply consume into something you understand and remember. It gives people a reason to care about where products come from, how they are made, and why supporting independents matters.
It is also one of the reasons our food tours resonate so strongly with guests. The flavours are important, of course, but the stories and people behind them are what make the experience truly memorable.
A Weather Disruption and a Strong Festival Comeback
The weekend did not go entirely to plan, with the festival unfortunately needing to close on Saturday due to weather warnings. Even so, the event made a strong comeback on Easter Sunday, bouncing back with a packed programme and a brilliant atmosphere.
That resilience says a lot about both the organisers and the audience the festival attracts. Despite the disruption, the enthusiasm for the event clearly remained strong, and visitors returned ready to make the most of everything on offer.
When a festival can recover like that and still deliver a vibrant experience, it shows just how valued it is by the local community and by the businesses involved.
Top Chef Demonstrations Added to the Atmosphere
Alongside the drinks stage, the food stage drew enthusiastic crowds with demonstrations from top chefs including Aidan Byrne and Paul Askew.
These live sessions added even more excitement to the festival and helped reinforce its reputation as one of the standout food and drink events in the region. Watching talented chefs in action always brings an extra buzz, and it gave visitors even more reason to stay, explore, and engage with the programme throughout the day.
The combination of chef demonstrations, producer talks, tastings, and shopping opportunities made for a well-rounded event that celebrated the local food scene from every angle.
Why the Cheshire & North Wales Food & Drink Festival Matters
Events like the Cheshire & North Wales Food & Drink Festival matter because they do more than provide a good day out. They support independent businesses, create visibility for talented local producers, and help build stronger connections between people and place.
For visitors, they offer the chance to try something new and discover brands they may never have come across otherwise. For producers, they create an opportunity to meet customers face to face, explain their story, and build loyalty in a meaningful way.
For the region as a whole, they help strengthen the food and drink identity of Cheshire and North Wales – something that benefits tourism, hospitality, and local business alike.
A Perfect Fit for Walking Food Tours UK
At Walking Food Tours UK, this is exactly what we are passionate about too.
Our tours are built around celebrating local food and drink scenes, championing independent venues, and helping people experience places through flavour, character, and story. That is why being part of the Cheshire & North Wales Food & Drink Festival felt like such a natural fit.
It was a pleasure for Gareth to be involved, to meet such passionate producers, and to see so many people enjoying what the region has to offer. Events like this are a reminder that great food and drink experiences are about much more than what is on the plate or in the glass – they are about people, community, and shared enjoyment.
We are already looking forward to the next one.
