Lancashire’s Summer of Taste 2024
Fantastic foodie events, the UK’s top restaurant outside London, some of the best gastropubs in the land and a VisitEngland Awards for Excellence national winner… Here’s why every food lover should take a break in Lancashire this summer.
Lancashire is celebrated for its fantastic producers, delicious dining experiences and world class chefs and Lancashire’s event calendar offers year-round opportunities to enjoy a taste of Lancashire, to sample some of the fantastic food and drink on offer and to meet producers face to face.
From award winning honey, cheese or chocolate rum, top rated gin, flavoursome homemade ice cream, the finest meat, fish and produce from the land – you will find it all in Lancashire. Not to mention some of the UK’s highest rated restaurants, inns and pubs, where you can enjoy a meal fit for a king.
Read on to get your foodie inspiration this summer!
Not to be missed foodie events
Our food festivals are well known for not only supplying great food and produce, but for also providing great entertainment throughout the days or weekends. Why not pop along to some of the great festivals in Lancashire this summer.
Taste Lancashire Market
National Festival of Making, Blackburn, Lancashire
6th & 7th July – FREE to attend
The National Festival of Making is a unique celebration of UK making, from the kitchen table to the factory floor. Presenting a programme of work that combines art, manufacturing, making and communities, commissioning international and national artists to create world class works, a year round programme and a participatory free family festival for all to enjoy.
The streets of Blackburn come alive with workshops, talks, live music, performances and more, including plenty of opportunities to grab a bite to eat. One of the most popular areas at the festival, the Taste Lancashire Market, is dedicated to the produce made and available in Lancashire. Taste, shop and buy something to enjoy at home later.
This year the market will feature award winning produce from the likes of Mrs Dowsons Ice Cream, The Bee Centre, The Three Wheel Gin Company, Bowes Dairy, Pudalicious, Lucelas Chocolate Rum, Lone Wolf Bakery, Heritage Kitchen Preserves, and The Blackburn with Darwen Food Alliance. The market will also be home to Ookin Coffee, a new Lancashire based coffee cart from Olympic pole vault medalist Holly Bradshaw and her business partner and best friend Tim Booth.
Ormskirk Gingerbread Festival
Ormskirk, Lancashire
14th July – FREE to attend
Did you know Ormskirk Gingerbread dates back to the 1700s? The traditional market town of Ormskirk will come to life with all-things Gingerbread, to celebrate its links with the baked treats.
Thousands of visitors are expected to join in the festivities, which include live entertainment, heritage and gingerbread-themed stalls and children’s craft activities in the town centre.
Ormskirk’s cafes, bars, shops and restaurants will also embrace the gingerbread theme with special menu items, offers and promotions. Foodie heritage at its best.
Ribble Valley Taste Festival
Various Locations through the Ribble Valley, Lancashire
5th – 9th Aug
Building on the success of Clitheroe Food Festival, the Ribble Valley Taste Festival is a week of preliminary events in various locations around the beautiful Ribble Valley. From “walks with taste” to brewery tours and gin tasting sessions; there will be a variety of dedicated food and drink events to choose from, all taking place in the breathtaking countryside villages and towns found in the region.
Clitheroe Food Festival,
Clitheroe Town Centre, Lancashire
10th Aug – FREE to attend
Returning this August, the Clitheroe Food Festival delivers a huge selection of delicious local produce and culinary talent. The whole family will enjoy tasting the foods on offer. With over 80 local producers there is bound to be something for even the fussiest eaters. From seafood to Indian, and cakes to Cunliffe hog roast, there is something to tempt everyone. The smells alone are enough to send your taste-buds into overdrive!
In addition to the food, there are many different beers and spirits to choose from too. There are craft beers and some excellent spirits which you may not see elsewhere.
There will also be fun activities available throughout the day, to inform and educate children and adults about where their food comes from and why it’s so important to enjoy local food.
Colne Food and Drink Festival,
Colne Town Centre, Lancashire,
27th July – FREE to attend
Bring out the stretchy pants, Colne Food and Drink Festival is back with its fantastic offering of mouthwatering food and drink from the local area, including the Man Vs Sausage competition! The festival will include a 50 stall artisan market and street food arena with chef demonstrations throughout the day. Workshops will include pizza making and children’s crafts, and there will be live entertainment throughout the day.
Lowther’s Food and Drink Festival,
Lowther Gardens, Lytham, Lancashire
24th – 26th Aug – FREE to attend
The historic Lowther Gardens in Lytham provides a stunning backdrop for the events planned by the Lowther Pavilion including its outdoor theatre and food events. August Bank Holiday will see a full weekend of food, drink and free entertainment in the Edwardian Gardens. In addition to the range of food stalls there will be a Creative Crafts Marquee and a small funfair for children to enjoy.
Fylde Coast Food & Drink Festival
Marine Hall, Fleetwood, Lancashire
1st Sep – FREE to attend
Just up the coastline in Fleetwood, the next event on the calendar will take place in the beautiful Marine Hall, on the edge of Morecambe Bay. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the festival, full of delicious local food and drinks for all the family. There will be lots of sample and buy from a huge range of local producers, including coffee and cake, sausage and snacks, cider, luxury spirits and more. An event that caters for every taste.
Enjoy a bite in Lancashire
If you can’t make a trip to Lancashire during any of these foodie events, never fear. The region’s pubs, bars and restaurants provide you with mouthwatering food and fabulous drinks throughout the seasons.
Lancashire is home to Restaurant Magazine’s Top Restaurant Outside of London, Moor Hall Restaurant and Rooms, which has just added a series of Garden Rooms to its offering – treat yourself to a gourmet break in this world class food destination. A further three entries also feature in the Magazine’s Top 100 Restaurants list; Parker’s Arms in Newton by Bowland, Sō–lō Restaurant in Aughton and Northcote in Langho.
Looking for Michelin Stars? Then some of the most affordable Michelin starred establishments are in Lancashire. Moor Hall has two stars, and a green Michelin Star too, it’s sister restaurant The Barn has one. Northcote, The White Swan at Fence and Sō–lō Restaurant also have a star each. The Michelin guide also features Aven in Preston, The Three Fishes in Mitton and The Cartford Inn in Little Eccleston, and Twelve Restaurant in Thornton has a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award.
No matter where you visit in the county you’ll find incredible establishments. The Ribble Valley in particular is well known for its eateries with La Locanda in Gisburn having won the VisitEngland Taste of England award in June 2024.
Visit Lancashire’s recent Sweet Treat guide is a great place to find somewhere to satisfy your sweet tooth. The guide features everything from coffee and cake to afternoon teas, waffles to milkshakes, ice creams and more. Featuring award-winners, accessible and dog friendly cafes and restaurants.
For more ideas on places to eat, find local producers, recipes and places to shop head to www.visitlancashire.com/food-and-drink