Festival of Making showcases best of Lancashire food and drink

A curated array of Lancashire-made produce, from cakes to cheese, gin to honey, was the talk of the National Festival of Making.

The annual event once again brought thousands of inquiring minds to Blackburn town centre. The festival celebrates makers and producers and combines art, manufacturing, making and communities.

Among the attractions was a Taste Lancashire Market, part of Marketing Lancashire’s established food and drink campaign to champion and highlight the county’s world class food and drink.

Vikki Harris, marketing and partnerships director of Marketing Lancashire, said: “Marketing Lancashire is a proud and active supporter of local food and drink, showcasing Lancashire’s innovative, artisan producers in popular and high profile events locally, nationally and internationally.

“New and returning visitors were able to meet the faces behind the produce and learn first hand about their process and products. As well as returning favourites, the market showcased new businesses like Ookin Coffee, owned by Lancastrian Olympian Holly Bradshaw and Tim Booth.

“The National Festival of Making is a brilliant and engaging event that has something for everybody and the Taste Lancashire Market full of tasty, lovingly crafted products, made in Lancashire, is always a big attraction.”

This year’s Taste Lancashire Market provided visitors with honey from The Bee Centre in Chorley, who impressed the crowds with a live beehive on their stall and answered questions from visitors.

There was chocolate rum from multi-award-winning Lucela’s Premium Spirits of Blackpool (winner of World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur title and a coveted Good Taste Award), Gin and Limoncello from Three Wheel Gin of Morecambe, Mrs. Dowson’s ice cream, fresh from their Ribble Valley farm, a selection of cheeses from Broughton-based Bowes Dairy, puddings from Poulton-Le-Fylde’s Pudalicious, chutneys from Bacup-based Heritage Kitchen, and cakes from Lancaster-based bakery Lone Wolf.

Rachael Spence, owner of Lone Wolf Bakery, said: “We look forward to holding a market stall at the Festival of Making every year.

“The atmosphere is always buzzing regardless of the weather, the other stall holders in the Taste Lancashire Market are always lovely and we have loads of fun working the event. It allows us to network with other local small business and we sell out every year with excellent feedback."

In addition, the Taste Lancashire Market featured an informative stall from the Blackburn and Darwen Food Alliance, helping visitors to understand the impact of food waste on our environment.

Visitors could also pick up the latest Visit Lancashire magazine, an 80-page essential guide packed full of places to visit, things to do, places to stay and of course restaurants and eateries where you can enjoy Lancashire’s incredible food, drink and hospitality.