Carlisle Great Food Fair

Ancient event marks official food fair opening

(Date of issue: Wednesday, 20 August 2008)

An ancient Proclamation dating back to 1352 marks the official opening of the Carlisle Great Food Fair this Saturday (23 August).

The Proclamation is a declaration of the City Council’s rights to hold an annual Fair in August, originally granted to the citizens of Carlisle in 1352 by Edward III. A Procession, involving the Mayor of Carlisle, Councillor Mrs Jacquelyne Geddes, and other civic dignitaries, will watch Deputy Chief Executive, Dr Jason Gooding, recite the Carlisle Great Fair Proclamation at 10am, at the city centre Market Cross. A Town Crier will also be in attendance.

The Proclamation will follow the start of Carlisle City Council’s Great Food Fair, which opens for business this Friday (22 August). The city centre food festival will continue throughout the Bank Holiday weekend and will include the return of the popular Continental Market throughout the four-day event and Made In Cumbria Farmers’ Market on Friday and Saturday.

The Continental Market, arranged by the Market Place Europe Ltd, will feature a host of traders from the far reaches of Europe. Goods will include charcuterie specialist meats from Corsica, freshly baked French Apple and Fruit sponges, a Spanish trader cooking authentic paella, and wine and beer merchants selling quality Bordeaux.

New traders for this year include an Italian Delicatessen, Italian Biscuit stall and a German Sweet Stall. Some of the old favourites will also make a welcome return and include Karl Heinz from Germany with his circular BBQ Schwencklegrille and Mr Duroc will be selling a great selection of cheeses from around France. Aarons will also attend selling a wide range of exotic and rare meats such as alligator, ostrich and springbok.

Green – fingered shoppers will not be disappointed either, as the market will include the ‘Flying Dutchman’, Dick van de Wardt, one of the largest plant, flower and bulb specialists from Holland.

The Made In Cumbria Farmers’ Market includes traders selling local produce such as Cumberland Sausage, Cumberland Mustard, preserves & pickles, cakes and truffles. Cumbria is full of such culinary masterpieces, from simple loaves from local bakeries to dishes in Michelin starred restaurants, real ale and damson gin. It’s all at the Food Fair. The programme will also include daily entertainment on the bandstand.

To coincide with Carlisle City Council’s Food Fair, local residents have also been given the opportunity to share a Fair Trade Breakfast with Carlisle’s Mayor, Cllr Jacquelyne Geddes, who is the City Council’s "Fair Trade Champion". Part of Carlisle’s celebration of its ancient rights to hold a fair, granted to the citizens of Carlisle in 1352 by Edward III, the Mayor will host a Fair Trade Civic Breakfast in the Tithe Barn, West Walls on Saturday, 23 August at 8.30am.