Rochdale Borough Council

Demonstrations

We've some great FREE demos and workshops located on the ground floor of the town hall.

Chocolate Making Creations

• At 11.30am and 1.45pm
• Cost: FREE

Claire Gilbertson, founder and creator of Mr Bee and Mr Bat, the artisan chocolatier from Heywood provides an insight into the origins and production of chocolate along with tastings and chance to try different flavour combinations.

Defiance Gin and sausage tasting at the Medicine Tap

• 12pm-4pm
• Cost: FREE
• The Medicine Tap is located opposite Rochdale Town Hall
• The sausage tasting is family friendly so your children are welcome

Do you love gin? Want to learn more about what makes this spirit unique? Get a sneak preview of the new Vault Cocktail Bar whilst you enjoy complimentary premium distilled Defiance gins. Multi-award winning Defiance gins are produced in the North of England and foraged across Lancashire, Yorkshire and Scotland. But that’s not all – you’ll also be able to sample a selection of quality British sausages from the famous Cowmans Butchers in the Ribble Valley. The renowned sausages are the key ingredient in The Medicine Tap’s signature dish – Sausage and Mash.

Mad Science Funstation

• Between 12noon-5pm
• Cost: FREE

Mad Science will also be outside the town hall with their pop-up 'Funstation' – giving you the chance to get hands on with their fun and exciting experiments.

Make the perfect Espresso Martini with Belgrove Hazelnut Rum

• At 12.15pm and 2.30pm
• Cost: FREE

The espresso variety is perfection in a glass; simple, stimulating and utterly delicious. It’s as good after dinner as it is as a short, sharp pick-me-up before heading out for the evening. In this workshop, you’ll discover the secrets to make one. Hosted by Belgrove Rum and the award winning Busy Beans Coffee.

Little Hens Cookery Class

• At 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm for 40 minute sessions
• Cost: £4
• Suitable for ages 2-10

Book tickets for Little Hens Cookery Class

Following 3 sold out shows at last year’s festival, Pat from Little Hens Early Years Activities in Milnrow presents another cookery class, giving you and your little ones chance to make a nutritional and tasty courgette and lemon vegetable cake, which you can then take home to cook.

There’ll be lots of fun and interaction along the way. The session will promote healthy eating, creativity and food awareness while building confidence and encouraging independence. Tickets only needed for children. Accompanying adults, maximum 2 per child, don't need a ticket for this class.

Spectacular Family Science Show – by Mad Science

• At 1pm and 3.15pm for 20 minute shows
• Cost: FREE
• Fun and interactive
• Educational, meeting science curriculum standards
• Led by trained, reliable, and dynamic instructors
• Loved by children of all ages

An exciting, high-energy science show with a food and drink theme. Meet the Mad Scientist, experience the 'wow factor' and plenty of audience participation.

Family stage

The Family Stage will be located inside the grade 1 listed town hall

Shake, Rattle and Roll

• At 12.15pm and 2.30pm for 40 minute sessions
• Cost: FREE
• Suitable for ages 0 to 4

Brighter Sound present a music making session for children. Explore instruments, create sounds, sing songs, dance, move, socialise and make a big noise!! Give your little ones the opportunity to explore, learn and build their musical skills and understanding. Learn new songs, activities and games to continue to sing and play at home. Sessions are led by the brilliant Beth Bishop who has worked as a music leader since 2002 specialising in Early Years.

Music

It's not just about the food and drink - the festival also has a host of live music on the menu as you tuck in and enjoy the mouth-watering fare. An outdoor stage accompanied by a covered seating area on The Esplanade by Rochdale Town Hall will run throughout the day.

Joe Dunne

• At 12noon
• Approximately 40 minute set

Rochdale's talented singer/songwriter played the main stage at Rochdale Feel Good Festival in 2017 after bagging second place in the annual 'Battle of the Bands' competition.

#Hashtag

• At 1pm
• Approximately 40 minute set

The Rochdale-based acoustic quartet, who specialise in their own versions of classic tracks by the likes of Bowie, T-Rex, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and more return after proving a big hit on our stage last year.

Katie O'Malley

• 2pm
• Approximately 40 minute set

A voice that pours with emotion, this Rochdale singer/songwriter has played across the UK at numerous shows and festivals, including Green Meadows, Dot2Dot and many more. A familiar face on the Manchester acoustic scene, she's supported top 10 album selling Beth Rowley, country star Kimmie Rhodes, played alongside Aziz Ibrahim (Stone Roses, Simply Red) and worked with award-winning producer Simon Dine (Paul Weller, Noonday Underground).

25th Hour

• 3pm
• Approximately 40 minute set

This young new indie/rock band hailing from Heywood, Bury and Swinton play a mix of their own music together with a stack of classic covers. Inspired by the likes of Joy Division, The Cure, Oasis, The 1975 and Catfish and the Bottlemen, the band comprises Shae on lead guitar/synth and programming, Tom on drums, Pete on rhythm guitar and Jade as lead singer and bass player. Don’t miss their festival debut!!

Between the vines

• 4pm
• Approximately 1 hour set

A southern rock style country duo from Rochdale, singing real songs about real life!!

Inside our grade 1 listed town hall there'll be plenty of stalls as well as an outside food and drink village with live music performances all day.

You'll be able to enjoy lots of fantastic food and drink traders.  With everything from tasty burgers, wood fired pizzas, spicy sausages, mouth-watering cakes and the best street food around, you're in for a treat!

We're updating this list regularly but here's a little flavour of what you can expect so far.

Food and drink village

Stalls outside food and drink village:

• Busy Beans Coffee
• Gozleme Queen - Turkish breads with fillings
• Halloumination - halloumi fries with various toppings
• Issan Friends - Thai street food
• Jared Bullock - bar
• Jonny Duck - duck pancakes
• Latelier Vintage Box - cocktail bar
• Love is Churros
• Quirky Catering - stuffed yorkshire pudding wraps, burgers, pulled pork and hot drinks
• Sugar Chic Fudge
• The Bubble Box  - Prosecco bar
• The Rockin Buddha  - vegan and vegetarian Chinese street food
• The Wood Fired Pizza Place
• Troy - Greek street food
• What's your Beef - gourmet burgers

Rochdale Town Hall

Stalls inside Rochdale Town Hall:

• Amazing Grater - a gadget for milling cheese, nuts, bread and more
• Amy Jinks - Rocky Road, fudge and pies
• Belgrove Hazelnut Rum
• Cakes by Alana
• Dabbawalayorkshire - Indian street food, vegetarian
• Doodles Children's Accessories
• Fairtrade
• FatJax - chutneys and relish
• Greg's Busy Bees - the honey man!! - honey and wax candle making
• Harrison and Griffiths  - Caribbean cakes
• Ice Cream Creations
• Just the Cheese - cheese and pickles and chutneys
• Kandy Kitchen Creations - stew and soup packs
• Little Unicorn Face Painting
• MKS Food Distribution - olives, nuts and Turkish delights
• R&G Authentic Thai Curry Paste
• Sea Straw - working with pubs, bars and restaurants to avoid single-use plastic and move to sustainable alternatives
• Shaw Meats - salami cured meat, game and butchery products
• Sweet Dreams Desserts by Huma - cakes, cupcakes, tiffins, macaroons, brownies
• The Great British Cheese Company - cheese and chutneys
• The Sawley Kitchen - shortbreads, biscuits and puddings
• Zodiac bar is open from 12noon - 6pm

Enter our Natural History Adventure Cake Competition

Have you got what it takes to bake a showstopper worthy of being crowned the best cake? We're hosting a 'Natural History Adventure' themed cake competition at the festival.

With the world famous Dippy the Dinosaur visiting Rochdale, from February to June 2020 as part of a UK tour, we want you to come up with an idea for a tasty cake designed around the 'Dippy on tour – a natural history adventure' theme.

Categories and judging criteria

The cake competition will have 2 categories: 

• Adults (13 years old and over)
• Children (Under 13s)

Both categories will be judged by top chef Andrew Nutter and local cake supremo Natasha Brown from Brown's Cakes.

Entries will be judged on taste, presentation and creativity.

How to enter

To enter the cake competition:

1. Present your cake on a disposable cake board.
2. Clearly label your cake with your name and entry category.
3. Deliver your cake to the Great Hall at Rochdale Town Hall on Saturday, 16 March 2019 between 10am and 12noon.

The judging will take place from 12.45pm and winners will be announced on the family stage at 4.30pm during the festival and the prizes will be presented by festival partner Premier Kia, Rochdale.

Prizes

There'll be prizes for the winners, runners up and everyone who enters.

Adults (13 years old and older)

1^st Prize - a champagne experience gourmet dinner for 2 at Nutters Restaurant.

2^nd Prize - afternoon tea for 2 at Brown's Cakes.

Children (under 13)

1^st Prize - afternoon tea at Nutters Restaurant for the winner and up to 2 guests (parents or guardians), plus a signed cookery book from Andrew Nutter.

Prize for entering

Everyone who enters the competition will receive a 20% off voucher for food and drink in the seated area of Brown's Cakes.

Any questions?

Email us with 'Cake competition' in the subject line at foodfest@rochdale.gov.uk

Premier Kia

Our official partner is Premier Kia

The dealership based on Molesworth Street near the town centre will be promoting the event to their customers across the region and showcasing vehicles at the festival.

"We are proud to be sponsoring this festival for the first time, and it's virtually on our doorstep. Partnering at the festival is a great way for us to support the local community. There is a great food and drink offer in the town centre and I believe in promoting this to as wide an audience as possible, so events like Rochdale Food and Drink Festival are really important."

Ben Bird, general manager at Premier Kia.

Travel advice

Car parking

FREE parking for festival visitors is available at Hopwood Hall College car park from 7.30am-10pm on Saturday, 16 March 2019. Find Hopwood Hall College on Google Maps.

You can also find car parks located around the town centre. Find car parks in the borough.

Some road closures and other road restrictions will need to be in place so we can run the festival safely.

Area: Rochdale
Reason: to hold Rochdale Food and Drink Festival 2019.
Expected start and finish:

• The Town Hall Square and Esplanade closure will be in place 12noon, Friday, 15 March 2019 - 10pm, Saturday, 16 March 2019.
• The Town Hall Square and Esplanade no waiting at any time will be in place 6am, Friday, 15 March 2019 - 10pm, Saturday, 16 March 2019.
• Vicars Gate closure and no waiting at any time will be in place 6am-10pm, Saturday, 16 March 2019.

Restriction and location: temporary closure and no waiting at any time along Town Hall Square, The Esplanade and Vicars Gate.

Alternative route: due to the nature and duration of the event, no alternative route will be in place.
Organised by: Rochdale Borough Council.

• See other road restrictions around the borough

Metrolink

Rochdale Town Centre Metrolink stop is a 5 minute walk from Rochdale Food and Drink Festival. Plan your tram journey at Transport for Greater Manchester.

Train

Rochdale Train Station is a 15 minute walk from the festival, or you can get the Metrolink straight into the town centre. Plan your train journey at Transport for Greater Manchester.

Bus

Rochdale Transport Interchange is a 5 minute walk from the festival site.  View departure times at Rochdale Interchange at Transport for Greater Manchester.

Smoking and vaping

We want to create a welcoming environment for everyone, so the festival will be a smoke and vape-free zone. Everyone is asked not to smoke or vape, to keep the air clear and inspire a smokefree generation.