Whether you’re a seasoned Festival goer or a first time Festival virgin, there’s no denying that there is a lot to choose from at the Abergavenny Food Festival. And it can be quite overwhelming. Where should you go? What should you eat? Who does the best cheese, for heaven’s sake?! All questions that need answers. Well, this is by no means a comprehensive list, but here are our recommendations for what we think you should make a beeline for this year. We’ve based our selection on what we’ve tasted and enjoyed in the past and should add that no money has changed hands here – these are our subjective views. Whatever you decide to do – go, eat and be merry
If you have your own top pick, let us know by commenting below!
Cakes and Pastries
- Welsh Cakes outside the Angel Hotel – sublime aroma, delicious flavour; you can’t beat ’em! www.angelabergavenny.com
- The Poffertjes Co. – Gorgeous Dutch waffles served from a vintage tram. They make them fresh and they taste the business. www.poffertjes.co.uk
Bread
- Talgarth Mill. Fantastic artisan bread from flour milled and baked in Talgarth. www.talgarthmill.com
Cheese
- Pop up to Nevill Street and visit Tom and Amy at The Marches Delicatessen and select from their wonderful array of award-winning cheese. www.marchesdeli.co.uk
Cooked and Cured Meats
- Trealy Farm Charcuterie – mouthwatering air-dired and cooked meat products, salamis and chorizo. YUM!
- Brindisa Ltd – Try their acorn fed ham; it melts in the mouth. You don’t need much but you’ll want a trough-ful of the stuff.
- The Handmade Scotch Egg Co. – Be quick! These go like hot cakes, or rather, scotch eggs. They come in an array of flavours and are simply divine!
- Black Mountains Smokery – Everything is good, but try their smoked chicken in a Caesar salad – awesome!
Fish & Seafood
- Oyster Meister Ltd – Quite simply the most delicious oysters we’ve ever tasted. Go for the freshly shucked ones with the lime (green) Tobasco sauce for a flavour sensation!
Fresh Fruit & Veg
- The Garlic Farm – From the Isle of Wight. We bought several bulbs for planting last year and had a bumper and tasty crop during the summer!
Meat & Game
- N S James – Fabulous quality meat. The beef, in particular, is wonderful!
- Neil Powell Master Butcher – GREAT burgers!
- Rawlings – Brilliant Bangers
Herbs, Spices & Condiments
- LittlePod – Superb vanilla paste in a tube, and not too sugary either
Tea & Coffee
- Chantler Teas – Premium ethically sourced loose leaf tea including their own Welsh blends. Try the peppermint (it’s better than Fortnum’s!)
Other gems
While you’re browsing the stalls at the Food Festival, why not pop into some of our local shops? For a fantastic selection of contemporary lifestyle gifts, visit FORTYSIX at 46 Cross Street. For a beautiful and tempting hand selected array of children’s toys, you must visit Fable at 47 Cross Street. If shoes are your thing, head off to Amanda Jayne shoe boutique at 16 Cross Street where Amanda stocks beautiful Italian shoes. Cuddle & Cwtch at 54A Frogmore St is the place to go if you fancy a spot of retail therapy to kit out the kiddies. If you need to get away from it all, then plan your next holiday at Miles Morgan Travel – they’ll look after you! Visit them at 70 Frogmore Street. Alternatively, if you’re here visiting Abergavenny and happen to fall in love with our beautiful town (and quite frankly, why wouldn’t you?) then you can go and check out the housing market by paying a visit to those lovely people at Parrys at 21 Nevill St or the helpful folk at Surehomes at 53 Cross St.
