Taste Cumbria Cockermouth
Taste Cumbria’s flagship festival in Cockermouth!
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September 2024
It’s a date fixed in every food lover’s calendar – the flagship Taste Cumbria festival is back in Cockermouth on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September 2024.
A great range of attractions are on the menu, giving visitors the chance to eat, drink, shop and explore.
There will be all the things you’ve come to expect from the biggest Taste Cumbria event which has been a firm favourite in the county’s event calendar since 2010. It was created to keep Cockermouth on the map following massive floods which devastated the town centre.
Here’s a taste of the fabulous festival line-up – all of this is FREE to attend and ticketed events will be announced closer to the time:
- Producers’ stalls
- Street party on Market Place
- Drinks tent and outdoor picnic area with live music all weekend
- Hot food court
- Cookery demonstrations
- Fairground rides
- Children’s activities
Traders – apply for a stall here: https://forms.office.com/e/h5kvTqTKAr
Matt Reed
Louise Young
Ryan Kenny
Brennan Reece
Taste Cumbria Cockermouth Comedy Night
In need of a laugh? Get yourself to the next Taste Cumbria Comedy Night in Cockermouth. There’s a great line-up of comics at the event. The compere is Matt Reed, who will be a familiar face to Taste Cumbria regulars.
Location – Cockermouth Cricket Club
Exclusive book launch at
Cockermouth’s Taste Cumbria
Food fans are in for an extra treat at this month’s flagship Taste Cumbria festival in Cockermouth when TV chef Peter Sidwell launches his new cookery book.
Described as ‘a contemporary anthology of recipes that redefine traditional favourites’, Peter will be showcasing some of the flavours at two free demonstrations on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September. On the Saturday, he will also be hosting a free Q&A where aspiring cooks can get some inspiration, and put his skills to the test.
Peter has been in the food and drink business for 30 years, and has appeared on shows such as Channel 4’s Lakes on a Plate and Amazon Prime Video’s Taste of the Lakes, as well as at live events such as the BBC Good Food Show. He now has a weekly YouTube cookery show, Peter Sidwell’s Kitchen, with 150,000 followers, and the book, which shares the same name, accompanies this. Each of the featured recipes has a QR code so they have a seat in his kitchen studio. They can even enjoy a complementary video masterclass where they can cook alongside Peter and watch his recipes come to life.
From the likes of ‘My Perfect Brownie’ and ‘Epic Lasagne’, to Tuscan Bread Soup and Lamb with Nectarine, Pistachio and Feta, the book is a feast for all the senses. The team behind it has a Cumbrian twist too – the gorgeous photography is by Emily Grey from Whitehaven and Carlos Reina from St Bees, who Peter has been working with for several years.
Pete said: “My style is all about ingredient-led cooking meaning I often start with an ingredient that I want to cook or that’s at its best. Crafted with modern cooks in mind, Peter Sidwell’s Kitchen is more than just a cookbook – it’s an interactive learning experience.
“I can’t wait to launch it at Taste Cumbria. I’ve been involved with the festival since year one and it’s the perfect showcase for the amazing ingredients our county has to offer. Whack on your apron and get cooking!”
The Taste Cumbria festivals are organised by Cumberland Council and aim to boost the local economy as well as promoting the very best of the county’s food and drink expertise.
Councillor Anne Quilter is the Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places and she added: “We are always looking for new and exclusive experiences for our events and it’s great to be able to be able to launch Peter Sidwell’s Kitchen book in Cockermouth this year. It’s shaping up to be another fabulous event.”
Peter’s launch demo takes place on Saturday 28 September at 1.30pm, followed by the Q&A, with a second demonstration on the Sunday at 12.30pm. Visitors will be able to buy copies of the book and have them personally signed at both events.
Other 2024 dates for your diary
Taste Cumbria Wigton – 22 April 2024
Taste Cumbria Maryport 10 & 11 August 2024
Taste Cumbria Christmas in Cockermouth – 7 & 8 December 2024
TRADERS: YOU WILL BE RECEIVING AN EMAIL TONIGHT (THURSDAY) WITH NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR LEAVING THE FESTIVAL AT THE END OF THE DAY ON SATURDAY.
It’s a date fixed in every food lover’s calendar – the flagship Taste Cumbria festival is back in Cockermouth on Saturday 23 September 2023.
A great range of attractions are on the menu, giving visitors the chance to eat, drink and explore.
There will be all the things you’ve come to expect from the biggest Taste Cumbria event which has been a firm favourite in the county’s event calendar since 2010. It was created to keep Cockermouth on the map following massive floods which devastated the town centre.
Here’s a taste of the fabulous festival line-up – all of this is FREE to attend and details of two ticketed events – a Supper Club and Cocktail Masterclass – are below.
- Stalls
- Street party on Market Place
- Drinks tent and outdoor picnic area with live music all weekend
- Hot food court
- The demo stage with some great local chefs
- Fairground rides
- Children’s activities
Images copyright Tom Kay Photographic. phototom@gmail.com
The September 2022 Festival Fast Guide
Saturday 24th September
10:00am – 5:00pm – Main Street – Producers’ Market
10:00am onwards – Market Place – Street Party
10:00am – 8:00pm – Memorial Gardens Car Park – Tractor Shed Brewing Bar, Kindred Spirit Cocktails and Hot Food Court with live music
10:00am – 8:00pm – Memorial Gardens – fairground rides
10:00am – 5:00pm – The Vicky, High Sand Lane – children’s activities with Rainbow Wishes Foundation
6:00pm – Quiz Night with Steffen Peddie
6:00pm – Supper Club @Cockermouth Cricket Club
Sunday 25th September
10:00am – 4:00pm – Main Street – Producers’ Market
10:00am – onwards – Market Place – Street Party
10:00am – 4:00pm – Memorial Gardens – Tractor Shed Brewing Bar, Kindred Spirit Cocktails and Hot Food Court with live music
10:00am – 4:00pm – Memorial Gardens – fairground rides
10:00am – 4:00pm – The Vicky, High Sand Lane – children’s activities with Rainbow Wishes Foundation
The Taste Cumbria Demonstration Stage, September 2022
Saturday 24th September
11am – 11:30am – Peter Sidwell – TV chef, author and presenter
12pm – 12:30pm – Daniel Winstanley – development chef English Lakes Hotels
1pm – 1:30pm – Jon Fell – executive chef, Osprey Inns
2pm – 2:30pm – Peter Sidwell – TV chef, author and presenter
3pm – 3:30pm – Victor Nwosu of Wiga Wagaa – creative chilli specialist
4pm – 4:30pm – Cumbria Distilling Co. – cocktail specialists & creators of Carlisle Gin
Sunday 25th September
11am – 11:30am – John Crouch – Wigton’s demonstration chef
12:00 – 12:30pm – Peter Sidwell – TV chef, author and presenter
1pm – 1:30pm – Irini Tzortzoglou – winner of MasterChef 2019
2pm – 2:30pm – Jon Fell – executive chef, Osprey Inns
3pm – 3:30pm – Daniel Winstanley – development chef English Lakes Hotels
Fairground & Live Music
Wakefield Road Car Park will have Wilmotts Fairground rides, hot food court, picnic area, Tractor Shed drinks tent, live music stage and cocktail van. See music times below:
Saturday 24th September
11am – 12pm – Chelsea Reynolds
12:30pm – 1:30pm – Pecker
2pm – 3pm – Logan Paul Murphy
3:30pm – 4:30pm – Gary Jackson
5pm – 6pm – Mojo Rising
Sunday 25th September
12pm – 1pm – Chelsea Reynolds
1:30pm – 2:30pm – Phil Lewthwaite
3pm – 4pm – The Mustangz
Children’s Activities, September 2022
There’s always fun for all the family at Taste Cumbria in Cockermouth.
All day on Saturday and Sunday, The Vicky shared workspace on High Sand Lane (down the side of The New Bookshop) will host foodie crafts and games with Rainbow Wishes Foundation.
Then, over on Memorial Gardens Car Park, next to the Tractor Shed Drinks in the Festival Marquee and Hot Food Court, there will be fairground rides from Wilmotts Funfair, and there will be crazy street theatre all around the town.
Childrens’ crafts, dressing up and games with Rainbow Wishes Foundation
FREE
The Vicky, High Sand Lane – down the side of The New Bookshop, look for the red door
Street theatre, September 2022
FREE
All around the town
Fairground rides with
Willmotts Funfair, September 2022
Memorial Gardens Car Park
Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 September – 11am – 4pm
Cocktail Masterclass
with Cumbria Distilling Co.
Learn to make four fabulous cocktails with the expert team from Cumbria Distilling Co. Learn the tips of the trade in this hands-on masterclass – and drink your tasty creations too!
Location – Cockermouth Kitchen Company, Market Place
Live music @ the Acoustic Stage, Market Place, September 2022
Acoustic music corner with local acts sourced by ‘Rock With’. See times below:
Saturday 24th September
11am – Ella Grayce
12pm – Ryan Davidson
1pm – Alex Freitas
2pm – Phil Lewthwaite
3pm – Rina
Sunday 25th September
12pm – Ella Grayce
1pm – Alex Freitas
2pm – Ryan Davidson
3pm – Joe Lush
Live music @ the Festival Marquee, Memorial Gardens Car Park, September 2022
Saturday 24th September
11:00am – Chelsea Reynolds
12:30pm – Pecker
2:00pm – Logan Paul Murphy, The Beatles Boy
3:30pm – Gary Jackson
5:00pm – Peter Wilson
6.30pm – Harry Stephenson
Sunday 25th September
12:00pm – Chelsea Reynolds
1:30pm – Phil Lewthwaite
3:00pm – The Mustangz
Special thanks to our event sponsors
... and thank you to our event supporters
Getting here
The nearest mainline train station is Penrith. Connecting buses take about an hour to transport you to Cockermouth. Alternatively, arrive via Carlisle Railway Station, then take the train to Workington, then the X4 or X5 bus, or a taxi. If you are travelling by car, leave the M6 at junction 40, take the A66 west and you should be here in 40 minutes. For bus timetables throughout Cumbria click here.
Parking
If you’re coming to our festivals by car, here’s a handy link to some of the car parks in Cockermouth. If you’re parking on the street, please check local signs for restrictions. You’ll need a timing disc to park at the roadside – these are available from local businesses. A new festival ‘Park & Stroll’ is available on land adjacent to Lloyd BMW, and at the rear of the Lakes Home Centre, on Low Road – postcode CA130HH. (Please don’t use the store car park as it is reserved for their customers.)
Explore
Why not make a weekend of it by booking some accommodation? There is an excellent range of places to stay – from hotels, campsites and glamping, to B&Bs and self catering – in and around Cockermouth, and throughout the entire Cumberland area. You can also find out more about the area and discover the wealth of independent businesses on the Cockermouth Town website. Eat, drink, shop and explore!
Free fun on offer
Most of the attractions at the Taste Cumbria festivals are free to enjoy. There is no charge for the expert demonstrations on the Demo Stage, or for the street theatre, children’s activities and arts and crafts workshops. A small number of events are ticketed and there is a also charge for the fairground rides. Keep up to date with everything that’s happening on Facebook or Twitter, where you can also discover the other Taste Cumbria festivals.
Insider information
