As the festival season approaches, Waitrose will be holding a Summer Festival of its own from 18th-20th August at Leckford Estate in Hampshire, the supermarket's farm. While enjoying food, drink, music and a variety of activities, visitors will also be able to learn about the 4,000-acre Leckford Estate. The estate grows and produces a wide range of items for Waitrose, including milk, mushrooms, fruit, flour, rapeseed oil and grapes for the supermarket's own Leckford Estate sparkling English wine.
 
As well as hosting the first Waitrose Summer Festival, the supermarket will also be setting up stall at popular festivals throughout the summer, bringing an array of delicious food and drink to festival goers; including Camp Bestival - 27th to 30th July and The Big Feastival 25th to 27th August (Waitrose also attended Cornbury Festival last weekend).
 
Rupert Ellwood, Head of Marketing, Waitrose, said : “We are delighted to be hosting the Waitrose Festival, bringing everything that we're famous for into one place. From the very best food, to our knowledgeable Partners and the passion of our producers, we wanted to show customers what it is that makes Waitrose special. We are proud supporters of British farming and our farm at Leckford Estate is the perfect venue to showcase this.
 
We also wanted to share a taste of Waitrose with other festival goers who may not have shopped with us before by setting up camp for the first time at a few of this year's popular summer festivals. It's a great opportunity to share our love of good food and drink and make Waitrose the best destination for summer eating."
 
Waitrose Summer Festival

Showcasing British produce, the Waitrose Summer Festival will bring together Waitrose producers, celebrity chefs and experts to showcase the very best food and drink.  Open to the public, the festival will feature a food and drink village with an array of pop-ups, including Good Food Guide recommended restaurants and foodie favourites such as sushi, stonebaked pizza and artisan cheese. Visitors will also be offered the chance to sample some of Heston Blumenthal's summer sizzlers in a Heston from Waitrose pub-style pop-up.
 
The Waitrose Summer Festival will play host to a number of special guests including Martha Collison, Tom and Henry Herbert, Ching-He Huang and previous MasterChef winner Dhruv Baker. Guests can attend workshops, and food demonstrations, see seasonal recipes being created, and find out about the latest food trends. More top names from the food and health industry will be announced in due course.
 
There will also be tours of the farm with the opportunity to learn about where Waitrose produce comes from and how it's grown.  Guests can also enjoy a range of delicious food and drink from Waitrose producers too, who will be on hand, ready to share their expertise and knowledge, along with tastings of their delicious food and drink.
 
Waitrose at Cornbury Festival, Latitude Festival, Camp Bestival and The Big Feastival

At the supermarket's specially designed festival pop-up, Waitrose will be serving up a selection of summer dishes, highlighting the supermarket's summer range. Early birds can wake up to smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, and late risers can also take advantage, with breakfast served until 11.30am. Festival goers can visit the pop up restaurant for a lavish lunch of new World Deli delights or dine out with a delicious dinner, with options including Prawn Linguine or a Pulled Pork Burger. A children's menu is also available.
 
As well as offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, Waitrose will have a rooftop lounge where myWaitrose card holders can relax with a free hot drink* and soak up the summer sun.
 
To add a bit of sparkle to the weekend, festival goers will also be able to 'Pimp their own Prosecco' when sitting down to eat, with fruity ingredients perfect for pairing with fizz.
 
Come rain or shine, Waitrose will be bringing a taste of uncompromisingly good food and drink to the festival scene, celebrating the best summer produce available.
 
*One per person per day, available on presentation of a valid myWaitrose card.

ENDS

Notes to editors:
 
Tickets for all festivals are available on their respective websites.
 
Waitrose Summer Festival at Leckford 18th-20th August 2017:
Tickets are available in Waitrose branches and online at: www.waitrose.com/summerfestival
 
Waitrose Weekend Live
Discussions and debates with guests and celebrities on everything from food and drink, healthy diets, nature and farming, and travel and culture. The talks will be hosted by Waitrose Food Editor William Sitwell. 
 
Cookery demonstrations, Waitrose Cookery School and foodie masterclasses 
A number of cookery demos will be taking place on the main stage with Waitrose chefs. 
Join our Waitrose Cookery School team for a hands-on cookery class in the pop-up Cookery School, with classes available for children and adults.
Martha Collison and other celebrity chefs will be sharing their top tips in food masterclasses. 
 
Drinks masterclasses 
Waitrose wine experts and local suppliers will be on hand with their expertise of beers, wines and spirits food pairing.
 
Yoga classes
The Happy Pear will join a team of yoga instructors who will be giving yoga classes for those who wish to bring along their sportswear.
 
Festival garden 
Join Adam Pasco's gardening masterclasses in the festival garden or get crafty by creating that essential festival accessory, a flower crown. Learn how Waitrose grows its Leckford Estate mushrooms, taste apple juice grown in the orchards on the farm and take a tour around the estate to learn all about Waitrose British farming.
 
Children's activities 
Waitrose Cookery School classes 
Farm tours, including an opportunity to meet the animals 
 
Food and Drink
Waitrose pop-up kitchens
The Woodspeen (A Good Food Guide recommended restaurant)
Heston from Waitrose pub pop-up
Barbecue tastings and demonstrations
Artisan cheese producers 
Bars with beer and ales, wine, spirits and sparkling wines for sale
Sushi and Japanese pop-up
 
Ticket Prices for the Waitrose Summer Festival 
Adult (+16 yrs), £10
Child (4-15 yrs), £5 
3yrs and under, Free
Family ticket (2 adults, 2 children), £25
myWaitrose members receive 10% off ticket prices and a free bag when a myWaitrose card is presented at the Waitrose Summer Festival.
 
Menus for the Waitrose pop-up at UK festivals:
 
Camp Bestival and Big Feastival Menu
Breakfast £10
Smoked Salmon Scrambled Egg on Sourdough Toast and a Berry, Coconut and Chia Smoothie Bowl served with Tea or Coffee
 
Lunch £10 
Italian Antipasti Board (Vegetarian option available) served with a glass of Prosecco.
 
Dinner £10
A selection of meals from this summer's new Waitrose 1 range - Beef and Pork Bolognese, King Prawn Linguine, Chicken and Asparagus Risotto or Butternut Squash Risotto with Feta served with a glass of Prosecco.
 
Pimp your Prosecco 
Choose from cordials including Elderflower, Elderflower and Rose, Raspberry and Pear or Blueberry and Blackcurrant finished with raspberries or blackberries.
 
Websites
www.waitrose.com/summerfestival
www.cornburyfestival.com
www.latitudefestival.com
www.campbestival.net
uk.thebigfeastival.com

For more information please contact hayley.soper@waitrose.co.uk