Abbfest 2012

If you fancy discovering a world of fabulous food and drink on your holiday in South Devon, there are plenty of interesting festivals and events throughout the year that’ll feed your desire for delicious grub. One of the best is a special celebration of local food and drink – Abbfest – which is held every September in the market town of Newton Abbot.

With over 60 food, arts, and crafts stalls and a great range of Devon ales on offer, Abbfest lets you sample the extraordinary range of quality products that are made in the West Country. Here you can munch your way through traditional Devon cuisine and some of the more unusual modern takes on old recipes. Devon has a nationwide reputation for good food and drink and this is the place to be to get a grasp on the diverse and vibrant produce that South Devon has to offer.

Stalls include handmade chocolates, jewellery and mosaics, fabrics, seafood, and fresh farm produce, while there’s plenty of entertainment that the whole family can enjoy with live music and popular bands on the Friday and Saturday evenings.

Learning from the experts

If you want to pick up a few cookery tips while you’re at Abbfest, then head over to the displays where acclaimed chefs will be on hand to show off their culinary skills with a series of kitchen demonstrations. Here you’ll be invited to taste the cooking and learn new skills and recipes. It can be a rewarding and interesting experience to watch chefs in person and prepare and create some exotic dishes, and you’ll leave with lots of ideas for your own masterpieces based on traditional recipes and quality local West Country produce.

Once you’ve finished eating all the samples you can find, wash it all down with some of our local brews. The West Country is known for its excellent beer and cider products, and South Devon regularly turns out a range of award-winning drinks. Produced by small microbreweries and using age-old traditional recipes and methods, the rustic and rural nature of the area is summed up in these intoxicating ales.

So for the best of the West Country and a taste of rural Devon, head on down to Abbfest this autumn.

If you're planning to come to Abbfest but need to find accommodation, why not check out Bulleigh Park Farm, who offer friendly accommodation with award winning breakfasts. The farm is located just a few minutes walk from Fermoys Garden Centre.