Complementing Ely’s eel festivities, the city’s food and drink fest returns
From 29 April to 2 May, Ely’s Eel Festival Weekend returns to pay homage to the humble eel and offer up a packed weekend of fun events over the spring bank holiday weekend. As well as lots of brilliantly bonkers eel-based fun, including an eel-throwing contest (not real eels, we checked) and the Eel Day Parade, the festival also offers up a stellar line-up of foodie events.
On both 1 and 2 May, the Food and Drink Festival is back for a third year on Palace Green, just by the magnificent Ely Cathedral, between 10.30am and 4.30pm. This year’s event looks set to be the biggest yet, featuring a huge array of food and drink traders, plus demonstrations from various celebrity chefs.
Pop into the Cookery Theatre on the Sunday and catch The Great British Bake Off finalist Ian Cumming, who’ll be whipping up a few showstoppers for the crowds and telling anecdotes about the well-loved show, we’re sure. Also cooking up a storm will be TV chef Jean Christophe Novelli and Jack Stein, executive chef for the Stein Restaurants, who’ll be relaying stories of restaurant life from Padstow and cooking up a great fish dish.
The main Food Hall will house a marketplace featuring artisan food and drink traders, whilst The Street Food Place will be showcasing yet more tantalising foodie treats.
Running throughout the weekend, keep an eye out for the Eel Food Safari, in which local eateries will be getting in the spirit by providing creative twists on the eel theme – look out for the Food Safari logo or download the map from the Visit Ely website, which shows participating venues.
