New attractions announced for 2022 Accrington Food Festival

The 2022 Accrington Food Festival will return in style this summer with a number of fantastic attractions including international, regional and local food markets, 1940’s singers, a full-size Spitfire static display, a sensational war re-enactment and a kitchen demo area featuring TV star Molly Robbins and some amazing local businesses.

Molly, as seen on Netflix series “Extreme Cake Makers,” is an award-winning cake artist and celebrity chef, and will be presenting in the kitchen demo area on the main stage which will be open from 10am-4pm. Local chef from Crafty Fox, Paul Fox, will also be taking to the main stage for a live cooking demonstration, plus a Ready Steady Cook Food Pantry challenge - the full line-up for the main stage is set to be announced in the next week.   

With limited available space remaining, organisers of the Food Festival, which takes place on Saturday 11th June, Amazing Accrington, are encouraging local businesses to book their food stalls now. For more information, contact [email protected]

As part of the Food Festival, which is free to attend and taking place in Accrington Town Centre, Broadway will be transformed into a spectacular street of international cuisine on both Friday 10th June (as a preview day) and Saturday 11th June, while an amazing regional and local food market will also be on show, offering wonderful local delicacies. Accrington Market will also be hosting both an indoor and outdoor market for Hyndburn Independents, with visitors to the event encouraged to #ShopLocal.

If that wasn’t enough, a pop-up ‘Café René’ will be based at St James’ Church in the morning from 10am (weather permitting), offering tea, coffee and a selection of cakes. The café will be supplied with these cakes by Accrington-based training provider and main sponsor North Lancs Training Group (NLTG), with all proceeds going to the church.

Gareth Lindsay, managing director at NLTG, said: “Showcasing amazing food is one of our specialisms here at North Lancs Training Group, so we had to be involved!

“There has been a brilliant uptake in our Apprenticeships in catering and hospitality, and with so many exciting opportunities to view on the day, this is a great way to show what we do on the main stage.”

From 12.30pm, the ‘Café René’ Parisian style café will then take centre stage for the eagerly anticipated war re-enactment (weather permitting) which will include actors performing as characters from the classic British sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo!

With MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, Sara Britcliffe, as well as NLTG managing director Gareth Lindsay, making guest appearances in the ‘Café René’ part of the re-enactment, this is one not to be missed and a must for all ‘Allo ‘Allo fans – one of the greatest British sitcoms of all time.

Amazing Accrington are also inviting people to attend the event in 1940’s dress to create a fantastic 1940’s scene, whilst anyone with a classic military vehicle is encouraged to get in touch to add to the superb display of classic vehicles which will be on show, including a replica Spitfire WW2 plane. The event will also boast 1940’s singers, with plenty of opportunities for visitors to have a bop on the square.

Murray Dawson, chair of Amazing Accrington, said: “The Accrington Food Festival is back in 2022 and with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations taking place just a week before, it is going to be bigger and better than ever. We have lots of Jubilee stalls plus a special Primary school initiative planned.

“From putting on one of the best war re-enactments in the county, to offering a wide range of delicious foods in both our international, regional and local food markets, we’ve got something for everyone at this year’s Food Festival and there will be plenty of exciting surprises along the way too.”

Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, commented: “Saturday 11th June is most definitely a date to add to your diary. It is one of those events which has a real community feel to it and with Amazing Accrington announcing such an extraordinary line up of free attractions, I can’t wait to see the town packed full of thousands of people enjoying themselves once again and most importantly shopping local. I’m also excited about my cameo role in the ‘Allo ‘Allo café scene prior to the war-renactment.

“It’s a great opportunity for the traders to do well and the Market Hall will also be welcoming local Hyndburn Independent businesses to come and sell their products from the market, which we celebrate.”

Miles Parkinson OBE, leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, added: “It will be fantastic to see the town extremely busy again following the success of one of the best Christmas Light Switch Ons.

“Amazing Accrington have put on some amazing events over the years and we can’t wait to experience another this June. From a great line-up of acts on the main stage, to a fabulous war re-enactment and a wonderful display of our local businesses, there is so much to look forward to.”

Local businesses can also register their interest for a stall here