Alresford Watercress Festival

JOIN IN THE FUN

In celebration of our most historic salad leaf,The Watercress Festival is taking place on Sunday 11th May 2008. This year marks the bi-centenary of the British watercress industry and we will be pulling out all the stops to make it a day to remember.
Once again a highlight of the festival will be the Grand Parade through Broad Street presenting the crowds with the first of the season's watercress harvest. Arrive early to ensure you don't miss it.
There's fun for all the family with cookery demonstrations by celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson, street entertainment, live music, rides on The Watercress Line heritage steam railway, and a fantastic food market as well as numerous other stalls including arts, crafts and clothing.

THE WATERCRESS FOOD AWARDS

From pubs and restaurants to tea shops and cafés, eateries around the town will be putting together imaginative watercress menus as they compete to win the festival food awards, Stop off and sample the winning delights!
Last year's innovative entries into the Watercress Food Awards included such delights as watercress chocolates, watercress ice cream and the award-winning watercress beer.
The Judges are looking forward to trying out even more inspired creations from this year's stall holders.

FARM TOURS

Meet the watercress farmers, find out about the production methods and pick up a bag or two of watercress from The Watercress Alliance stand, where you'll be able to see a model watercress farm. Or see the real thing by taking a 15 to 20 minute stroll down to one of Alresford's watercress farms where you can find out more during one of the free one-hour farm tours.
Check back later to find times and booking details.

STANDS

If you want a stand at the Festival please contact the following:

For the Food Market in Broad Street - Tim Brock, Hampshire Fare, 01962 845999 e-mail tim.brock@hants.gov.uk

For the Festival Market in West Street or East Street - Clive Burgess, 01962 736376 e-mail

For other things:

How to get to Alresford

F E S T I V A L H I G H L I G H T S

The Watercress Festival runs from 10.00 until 4.00. The programme of events is still being arranged but will include.

View the pictures from previous festivals.

10.30 Grand Festival Parade.

Live Bands

Asha10.00, 12..45, 2.45
Pete Harris Band 12.00, 2.00

11.00 - Music, song and dance by local children.

11.30 - World Watercress Eating Championship

Cookery Demonstrations with Antony Worrall Thompson 11.15, 1.30, 3.30

Morris Dancers 11.00, 12.00, 2.00, 3.00

Festival Food Awards 1.00, 3.30

BasingClog
Hook Eagle

Street entertainers& Musicians. throughout the day in Broad Street. The first performance starts after the Grand Parade.

Road closure details.

ANTONY WORRALL THOMPSON

(Cookery Demonstrations)

Find out why watercress is a hit with the professionals as leading chef and staunch supporter of Great British food, Antony Worrall Thompson demonstrates some quick, healthy and delicious recipes using watercress. He will also be signing copies of a new anniversary watercress recipe book.

Recipes for the Watercress Festival.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Information on Sponsorship Opportunities

WORLD WATERCRESS EATING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Can you handle the heat and take on Hampshire’s peppery power-house?

Launching this year is the very first World Watercress Eating Championship. Pitting man against superfood - the public will be challenged to munch their way through as many bags of fresh watercress as they can in 5 minutes. The winner will be crowned The World Watercress Eating Champion!
The contest will be taking place on the main festival stage at 11.30am. To enter simply sign up on the main stage from 10.45am – 11.20am.

THE FOOD MARKET

The food market will be a watercress lover's delight with more than 35 stalls selling a range of fabulous produce, from watercress crepes and watercress pesto to watercress soup and sausages. Sample some of Hampshire's finest food and stock up on goodies to enjoy at home.

THE FESTIVAL MARKET

The festival market, in East and West Streets will have more than 35 stalls selling a range of arts, crafts, clothing and jewellry as well as being a showcase for local voluntary organisations.

THE WATERCRESS LINE
FREE PARK AND RIDE

The Watercress Line heritage railway, so called because of the vast quantities of watercress it used to transport up to Covent Garden Market, makes for a charming day out in its own right. So what better incentive for a trip on this remarkable steam railway, than the fact that visitors to the Watercress Festival will be able to enjoy a free park and ride. There is capacity for 2000 cars at Ropley Station, from where visitors will be able to enjoy the 8 minute trip to Alresford. Alternatively, park at Alton, where you cam board the train to enjoy the whole 40 minute trip to Alresford, with tickets costing from £10 adults and £5 children over 3 years.

Timetable for Festival Day

PARKING

In addition to the free Ropley Park & Ride paid parking (£2.00 per car)is also available at Stratton Bates Recreation Ground and just off the Old Alresford Road towards Abbotstone- follow the AA signs. If you are coming from the Basingstoke/Old Alresford side of the town we strongly recommend that you park at Old Alresford. Designated disabled parking will also be available.

The festival is a result of the combined efforts of British Watercress Farmers www.watercress.co.uk - Alresford Salads, Vitacress Salads and The Watercress Company, New Alresford Town Council, Alresford Chamber of Commerce, Hampshire Fare, Winchester City Council and other community groups - www.watercressfestival.org

As well as the Festival all of Alresford's other attractions will still be available - The Millennium Trail, The Watercress Line and the pubs, restaurants and tea-shops will all be open for refreshments.

About Alresford

The Watercress Alliance are the principal sponsors of The Alresford Watercress Festival - www.watercress.co.uk

F E S T I V A L H I G H L I G H T S

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY