Huddersfield Live and Kirklees Council have been working with local businesses and performers to bring Huddersfield Food & Drink Festival to food lovers virtually.

The festival which usually takes place in St George’s Square, has been moved online this year to help control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. However, organisers are still keen to celebrate the array of amazing food and drink businesses that Kirklees has to offer, all of which can be enjoyed from the comfort of our own homes. The council and Huddersfield Live, the organisers of the festival,  are bringing four fantastic days of food and drink related activity to our screens from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 August 2020.

Whilst the festival is maintaining its name and unique personality, it is taking the opportunity to celebrate food and drink from across the district this year. The festival’s website and social media channels are promoting independent food and drink businesses and entertainers from across Kirklees. 

Visitors to the virtual festival can find participating businesses and take advantage of festival offers. They can also sit back and enjoy some live music from the comfort of their own home.

The festival is also helping to promote local producers and retailers, selling everything from natural wine to chutneys and jams.

Some of the festival’s highlights include chances to listen to food blogger, Tim Bilton, and the opportunity to learn how to make tasty dishes with Lydia’s Pizza and Kirsty’s Kitchen.

There will be musical sets from the likes of David Heathcote, Miles Battye, Alexandra Carlos, Highway 62, BreakAway, Hannah Carter, Valley Beats, Fishing for Compliments, Little & Often and Ellie Sax to name but a few.

Younger visitors can enjoy fun sessions with Bongo Beats,  Toddler Sense and The Hey Diddles. 

Cllr Rob Walker, Cabinet Member for Culture said: “We’re supporting the festival this year to help our fantastic local restaurants, cafes, bars and food businesses to recover from the impact of lockdown. We know that the Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival is much loved by people from Kirklees and further field.  I hope that they will all visit the virtual festival and maybe discover something or somewhere new.”

Sam Watt, Director of Huddersfield Live said: “Although we are saddened that due to the current situation we can’t bring our ‘Live’ event to Huddersfield, we’re really excited about delivering this new concept.  Working with Kirklees Council to help the recovery and bring positivity back to the area is so important to us. I’d like to thank all  the local businesses who’ve got involved and wish everyone a fun, safe and busy weekend.”

The festival can be accessed from the Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival website – https://huddersfieldfoodfest.com/, Facebook page www.facebook.com/hudsfoodfest