Ashford Food & Drink Festival
Ashford's very first Food & Drink Festival is coming to town this July!
Join us for a month-long celebration of food and drink businesses in and around Ashford Town Centre!
Throughout July there will be a programme of culinary delights that we hope will tempt you to try something new or revisit an old favourite!
There's also many special offers and two incredible competitions - A Discovery Experience for 4 at Gusbourne Vineyard and a Kent Cookery School class for 2 (scroll to the bottom to enter).
So join us as we “Taste and Try Throughout July”…
⭐Ashford Food and Drink Launch Party at Coachworks ⭐
Friday 30 June / 4pm-10pm
Free launch with live music, family-friendly pizza making workshops from Il Pakkero, and an independent food and drink market.
⭐ASHFOOD! at Elwick Place⭐
Saturday 1 July / 11am-7pm
Sunday 2 July / 12pm-5pm
A two-day including food and drink stalls, live music, children’s crafts and so much more.
⭐A Tasting Evening With Wine Garden of England and Boys Hall at St Mary's Church ⭐
Wednesday 19 July / 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Tickets £35 per person, over 18s only - Book here
Enjoy a tutored wine tasting from seven of Kent’s finest wineries alongside local cheeses and charcuterie, all accompanied by live music from Jonny Hepbir.
⭐Summer Beers & BBQ Festival at Curious Brewery⭐
Friday 21 July, 5pm – 11pm / Saturday 22 July, 12pm – 11pm / Sunday 23 July, 12pm – 4pm
Taste summer small plates, BBQ classics, exclusive brews and enjoy live music.
⭐Wine tasting with Wine Tours of Kent at Coachworks⭐
Thursday 13 July / 6.30pm-8.00pm
Tickets £20 per person, over 18s only
A tutored tasting of six amazing Kent wines accompanied by some light nibbles.
Bookings coming soon
⭐Bond-Themed Cocktail Night at Valerie's Wine Bar⭐
Friday 28 July / 7pm-12am
Tickets £7.50 per person (includes a glass of Prosecco)
Enjoy 5 Bond-inspired cocktail, a DJ and even a best dressed competition.
Bookings coming soon
⭐Craft Beer tasting Evening & Pizzas at Coachworks⭐
Thursday 27 July / 7pm-9pm
Tickets £25 per person (including pizza)
A tutored tasting of 5 amazing craft beers as well as making your own pizza with Il Pakkero in their wood-fired oven.
Bookings coming soon
⭐5-course dinner special at Everest Inn⭐
Monday 10 July / all evening
Tickets £60 per person
Enjoy a 5-course feast of the finest Nepalese cuisine. Includes Prosecco and Canapés. Book a table online.
⭐Liquid Light Tap Takeover at Low Key Taproom⭐
Saturday 8 July / all day
Try 6 different beers from the brewery Liquid Light.
⭐Made in Ashford's food and makers market at Park Mall⭐
Saturday 1 July / 10am-4pm
Head to Park Mall for the monthly Makers Market which for July will be food themed!
⭐Lily’s Kitchen Presents Cooking on a Budget at One You⭐
Wednesday 12 July / 11am & 2pm
Learn how to make delicious food, without pushing the purse strings with the team from Lily's Kitchen.
⭐Mama-Mia Themed Cocktail Night at Itaca's⭐
Friday 21 July / 6pm-2am
Enjoy a night of ABBA inspired cocktails as you feel like you're on your own Greek adventure, right in the centre of Ashford.
⭐Caribbean Sundowner evening at Jay’s Soul Food⭐
Saturday 22 July / 4pm-7pm
Saturday 29 July / 4pm-7pm
Tickets £30 per person
A feast for the senses with finger licking finger food, refreshing tunes & unforgettable uplifting afrobeats & reggae music.
Saturday 15 July / 2pm-11.30pm
The second TMI beer festival with live, original music from local bands.
⭐Lily’s Kitchen Presents Pasta Making at One You⭐
Wednesday 19 July / 12pm & 3pm
Tickets £20 per person, adults only
Learn how to make pasta with the team from Lily's Kitchen.
⭐Cheese and Wine Night at Leo & Sage⭐
Thursday 6 July / 6pm-9.30pm
An evening of great local produce in a lovely setting.
⭐Bottomless Brunches at Coachworks⭐
Saturday 1 July and 15 July / 12.30pm-2pm
£35 per person - Book here
90 minutes of unlimited House Lager, Fizz, Pimms or Cocktails, plus one main course from any of the street food vendors.
⭐Cupcakes – let’s decorate at The Little Teapot⭐
Monday 3 July / 3pm-6pm
£1 per cupcake
A chance for the whole family to get creative with cupcakes!
⭐Pizza making workshops at Coachworks⭐
Thursdays 13, 20 and 27 July / 4.30pm-6pm
£12 per adult / £5 per child
An authentic pizza making session where you can make your own pizza and learn how to use the wood fired pizza oven.
Bookings coming soon
⭐Lily’s Kitchen Presents Kids Cream Teas at One You⭐
Wednesday 26 July / 11am & 2pm
Tickets £7.50 per child
Get your child making their own scones this July with the help of the team at Lily's Kitchen.
⭐Formula One Contest at Matches⭐
Sunday 9 July / all day
⭐Independent food and drink market at Coachworks⭐
Sunday 30 July / 10am-4pm
Check out local producers as this monthly event takes a food and drink spin.
PLUS THERE'S MORE...
⭐⭐CREATIVE WORKSHOPS⭐⭐
Made in Ashford has a series of fun family-friendly workshops with a food and drink spin including pizza bunting, ice cream garlands and making your own piñata – just a few of their all-inclusive programme for the festival. You can book onto the workshops here.
⭐⭐OFFERS⭐⭐
Matches - 3 to 16 July
Celebrate Wimbledon with £10 jug of Pimms or £6 Strawberry Daiquiri
Low Key Taproom - whole of July
Buy any burger & get free fries
The Little Teapot - whole of July
Any large tea or coffee & a slice of cake for £4.95
Salata – whole of July
Salad box, snack & drink £10
Everest Inn – whole of July
20% off your food bill when booking a table at the Ashford or Mersham sites via the website by adding 'Food Festival' in the comment box
Jay’s Soul Food – whole of July
One main & side £6.50; One patty & drink £2.50 from 12.30pm-3pm
On Pizza - whole of July
Special pizza deals available via their website
Bank Street Cafe - whole of July
Summer Sri Lankan Food Month and Asian Afternoon Teas
Brownbills Optitians – whole of July
Free glass of fizz & nibbles (or soft drink) with every appointment
PLUS, County Square Shopping Centre will have an Urban Beach throughout July with a Summer Selfie Competition – and the chance to win a £100 gift card!
⭐⭐COMPETITIONS⭐⭐
To celebrate the launch of the Ashford Food and Drink Festival, we are delighted to be partnering up with Kent Cookery School and Gusbourne Estate to give you the chance to enter two exclusive competitions!
WIN A COOKING CLASS FOR TWO PEOPLE AT KENT COOKERY SCHOOL
Join Kent Cookery School for a fun hands-on cooking session where you will whip up some delicious dishes. Choose from over 25 evening courses including Mexican, Vietnamese, Thai, Turkish and even Street Food courses. If baking is more your style, then you’ll love the doughnut and macaroon baking sessions. Learn from friendly professional tutors and meet like-minded food lovers for an informative hands-on session.
WIN A WINE TASTING & 3 COURSE MEAL FOR 4 PEOPLE AT GUSBOURNE WINE ESTATE
Win a Discovery Experience for four people at award-winning winery, Gusbourne Estate. Begin the day with a perfectly chilled glass of sparkling wine, while taking in the views across the Boot Hill vineyard. Enjoy a brief tutored tasting, where your host will guide you through two distinctly different styles of Gusbourne sparkling. After the tasting, you’ll be left to enjoy a leisurely seasonal three-course lunch perfectly paired with a selection of Gusbourne sparkling wines.