July/August foodie diary

The latest South West food and drink events and pop-ups for your calendar

Fusion food and funky pints in Penryn

Following the much-anticipated opening of their taproom earlier this year, the brewers at Verdant in Cornwall have invited their friends at Situ Cafe to spend the summer in the taproom yard.

Cooking out of an old German ambulance, Situ founder Sham Mulji crafts ‘heritage food and fusion flavours’ inspired by a migration route from Gujarat in India to the UK via Uganda in East Africa. Visit Thursday to Sunday to sample Sham’s flavour-forward snacks and hot dishes alongside a line-up of over 20 craft beers from Verdant.

Get the low-down.

A match made in Bristol

Celebrate two of the region’s favourite things at Bristol Cider & Cheese Festival on July 16. Hosted by the pros at The Cider Box, the one-day event will include talks, tastings, music and street food.

Tickets cost £18 and include a welcome cider, a selection of artisan cheeses and entry to all of the activities, including the Cider vs. Cheese tasting session with international cheese judge Emma Young.

Get the low-down.

Dinner with a critic

Restaurant critic William Sitwell is hosting a series of supper clubs (pictured top) at his Exmoor home this summer. The Telegraph food columnist has invited a host of the UK’s leading chefs to cook for 60 guests in a barn on his family farm in Wiveliscombe.

Award-winning cookery writer Shahnaaz Ayub will be preparing the feast on July 22, followed by Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar on August 19-20. Tickets cost £70 and include a welcome drink, snacks and three-course dinner (read our review of the Adam Handling Sitwell Supper Club here).

Get the low-down.

Chef royalty in Rock

Rock Oyster Festival returns to Dinham House in Cornwall on July 29-31. This year, Padstow protege Jack Stein will be hosting the proceedings and has invited along guest chefs such as Rosemary Shrager, Gizzi Erskine, Adam Handling, Jude Kereama and, of course, his dad Rick.

As well as chef demos, tasting experiences and alfresco cookouts, there’ll be music from Happy Mondays, Laura Mvula and Grandmaster Flash. Tickets from £53.50.

Get the low-down.

New food festival for Bath

On July 29-31, Royal Victoria Park will host Bath’s inaugural Fantastic Food Festival. A celebration of the very best local and seasonal food and drink, the family-friendly festival promises a day of hands-on experiences, tasting opportunities and demos from a line-up of celeb chefs. Tickets cost £12 – under 18s (and dogs) get in free.

Get the low-down.

Lakeside shindig

Valley Fest returns on August 4-7 for three days of feasting and live music on the banks of Chew Valley Lake near Bristol.

Festivalgoers can look forward to communal feasts and cooking demos by local culinary heroes such as Josh Eggleton, Toby Gritten and Rob Howell. Keep an eye out for the 8Track Rum team who’ll be serving up their spiced Cornish spirit from a converted school bus. Tickets from £60.

Get the low-down.

Shucks away!

Block out September 3 in your calendar for Hix Oyster Celebration in Lyme Regis. Chef Mark Hix will be marking the start of native oyster season with an all-day event on the deck of his restaurant, The Oyster & Fish House.

Throughout the day Mark and guests will host a series of talks and tastings exploring the heritage of the British mollusc. Entry is free and oysters start at £1 a pop.

Get the low-down.