Interview with Sue Hitchen Founder of Foodies Festival which comes to Bristol 11-13th May
Posted on: 03 Mar 2018Foodies Festival, the biggest of its kind in the UK, returns to Durdham Downs in Bristol on 11th to 13th May and features amazing food and drink stalls, demonstrations, master classes, pop-ups and a market, as well as live music, and wellbeing in the Healthy Living zone.
We spoke to the festival’s founder, Sue Hitchen about the event.
Tell us about you! What is your background in food/events?
I am the founder of Foodies Festivals which is now in its thirteenth year, with seven Summer festivals in Brighton, Bristol, London’s Syon Park, Birmingham, Tatton Park in Cheshire, Edinburgh and Oxford.
What inspired you to start Foodies Festival?
I wanted to run a family friendly food festival where children were encouraged to try new flavours and taste new foods and which is a fun day out for everyone.
What has been the most exciting/rewarding part of running Foodies Festival?
We have helped many local artisan producers and street food traders launch and develop their businesses and it is wonderful to see visitors enjoying new tastes and flavours, and meeting the individuals and families who have created them. With over 200 exhibitors and award-winning local producers in the Artisan Market, a Street Food Avenue, Cakes and Desserts Theatre, Kids Zone and Cookery School, Live Music Stage, Healthy Living Area, Chef’s Theatre, Pop-Up Restaurant Tents, Tequila Shack, Tikki Rum Bar, Gin Station, Double Decker Bar Bus and Pimm’s from the Giant Pimm's Teapot, Foodies Festival has all the key ingredients to stir up an unforgettable weekend out for families and for friends this summer.
Do you have a personal favourite section of the festival?
I love standing in the back of the Chefs Theatre and the Cake & Bake theatre and watching the amazing creations that the chefs and bakers put together. It is so inspiring and we are so grateful that they share their hints and tips with the audience and also share their signature recipes so that you can prepare them at home. This year in our Cake and Bake Theatre visitors will be offered sweet treats all weekend long. Hosted by cake designer and author, Charlotte White AKA The Burlesque Baker, the Cake and Bake Theatre keeps things sweet, featuring demonstrations by the very best bakers, pastry chefs and cake designers from across the country. New for 2018 is Cake & Cabaret, a glamorous demonstration where the food will be prepared in an all-singing, all-dancing, Vaudevillian style - expect the unexpected from a multi-talented band of chefs!
With fun for all the family, the kid zone is also bigger and better than ever this year, promising complete anarchy with waterproofs and pre-loaded Super Soakers at the ready for little rascals. Packed full with messy cookery classes, bouncy castles, face painting, crafting and giant garden games, there’s endless fun to be had.
Have you met any challenges when running the festival? How did you overcome them?
Our challenge is to build the festival in two days and then dress it ready for opening. We see the Foodies container driving in from the distance and then the countdown starts!
Do you have a dream guest/activity you’d love to feature one day?
We love having the Bake Off winners and MasterChef winners visit the festival. This year at Bristol Foodies we have an all-star line up cooking up a storm in the Chef’s Theatre, including Great British Bake Off finalist 2017 Steven Carter Bailey, as well as Great British Menu winner, Richard Bainbridge and Tapas Revolution chef Omar Allibhoy to name but a few, all offering recipe secrets and tips to take home.
What’s your favourite kind of food?
I love spices but so far have resisted taking part in our daily Chilli eating competition.
What are you most looking forward to about being back in Bristol?
Bristol Foodies is my favourite festival as you are always the first to get up and dance at the live music stage. We have Toploader, The Hoosiers and Dodgy playing this year and we are staying open until 9pm.
What does the future hold for Foodies Festival?
We want to remain one of your most popular festivals and build on our success so that you come back every year.
To find out more about Foodies Festival visit www.foodiesfestival.com or to purchase tickets click here.
Article by:
Hannah recently graduated with a degree in English with Writing. She is an avid writer, freelancer and creative. She is currently writing her first full-length novel and a collection of poetry. Always out and about in Bristol's music scene, she attends music events on a weekly basis.
