Mid-morning, I made my way to the Quarry Park where almost the entirety of its grounds had been devoted to this long-awaited weekend. As I headed in alongside the gathering hordes of families, friends and foodies, I was instantly met with their smiling, young volunteers as well as a mouth-watering mélange of aromas from hog roasts, fresh bakes, churros and curries.
My attention was first piqued by the live music stage on which The Founders were rocking out epic covers from the likes of Vance Joy, Queen, and Bastille. Hosting a fab range of local groups including Dirty Rockin Scoundrels with their electric guitars, suits and sunnies (despite the slightly overcast sky) and my particular favourite, Two Blank Pages. The banjo-wielding trio captivated the crowd with their swingin' tunes and rustic harmonies.
The ginormous set up had me clueless as to what to do first! Ahead of the entrance was a little sheep pen surrounded by clusters of open-mouthed children. Next to it was a very family-orientated area with interactive models, toys, and even a delicious dish of dried locusts to dip into! (Conclusion: a little crunchy but exceeded expectations.)
I also had the opportunity to learn about the Shrewsbury Food Hub and its 165 volunteers from proud, new team members Mike and Sam. Demo chef Steve, The Hungry Guy hailed their crucial work whilst demonstrating what we could do with our leftovers, causing quite a stir in the tent when he put the onion skin straight in the stock! All about resurrecting the dwindling art of sharing and cooking he concocted an ‘unctious’ meal from ‘whatever was in his fridge that morning’ proving that we can do it too! (Although I couldn’t help wishing that I too just happened to have cured venison in my fridge at home.)
After buying a tasty Chelsea bun from Hindleys bakery I sat and watched Mukaase’s Christiana bring the demo tent to life with her Afro-Caribbean blackeye bean stew with plantain, saltfish, and mackerel. Coming from a long line of women who love to cook she was “thrilled” to have finally been invited as a demo chef at this prestigious event.
Walking round the countless stalls I was astonished at the sheer variety of charismatic entrepreneurs. This will completely reinvent what you think you know about food. I stopped to try tofu cheese at Happy Mouse which actually could’ve tempted me to veganism! I marvelled at stalls boasting the best of every corner of the globe: Sicilian Cannoli, pierogi, biltong, Portuguese tarts, baklava, and the most beautifully hand-crafted, Spanish garlic graters.
Those after a more boozy experience were surely unprepared for what they were about to experience… Owner of the English Drinks Company, Graham Carr Smith tempted me to a taste of his bestselling cucumber gin that might have just been the most fresh, crisp and scrumptious drink I’ve tried. Extremely innovative and actually genius, Kin’s Toffee Vodka also stood out as being a little too dangerously delicious…
What I loved the most were the inspiring stories of these little local businesses. Like Powells Pies using the same, unchanged recipe for over 100 years; prosperous companies borne from nothing but a recipe book, a pandemic, and a lot of passion like Shropshire Macaron Co. or even Ally Glass Studio which stemmed from a jokey Christmas present! In a town like Shrewsbury everything also seems so much more personal, for instance renowned meringue company Flower & White was launched by my family friend from their garden shed!
Navigate your way through the tirelessly sprightly Morris Dancers, hula hoopers and penny farthing bikes and you’ll find yourself in the middle of a whole field of free, family-friendly, activities. Young, local talent from Get Your Wiggle On enchanted onlookers from the bandstand with stirring renditions from hit musicals.
Come prepared to spend the entire day as there’s almost too much to see! From vintage tractors, retro gaming stations and second-hand sales to axe-throwing, row machines (if you’re into that) and Marmite merch, indulge yourself in incredible new experiences for mind, body and tongue…
This review was commissioned by Original Shrewsbury as part of its Young Reviewers series, supported by Work in Shrewsbury
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