Eat and Drink Festival

The launch of the Eat and Drink Festival had special participation by numerous chefs, food bloggers and Instagrammers.

Author of Top with Cinnamon blog, Izy Hossack, 21, was one of the many guests of the Foodie Lab area, where every hour there were public demonstrations.

Even though Hossack is about to publish her second cookbook and has more than 200 thousand followers on Instagram - this was her first public demonstration - and surprisingly, she admitted that her parents were not present.

The festival has a selection of the country’s top artisan producers and street food vendors. From top chefs to burgers and cheese vendors it showcases the world of eating and drinking.

Hossack told Guilty Pleasures what is her favourite type of food:

This is the first edition of the Eat and Drink Festival which is co-located with the Ideal Home Show which took place in the Olympia exhibition centre in Hammersmith. Therefore, because this event is inside a huge exhibition centre it is not really clear where people can find the eat and drink festival, it is really complicated to understand where to go from the outside and in the interior - there is not enough information and signage. “When I came in I really didn’t know where I was going to,” said Hossack.

The feedback about the festival was not the best but she said she believes they will improve it for future editions. “The festival is a bit hidden, they should put in next to the entrance, it should be more accessible,” said Hossack.

One of the vendors in the event, 21-year-old Emma Adams, said that there is a good range of things but there could be more done in the next editions. She works for an organic farmers company who delivers boxes. “There is a great opportunity for business vendors, to get you name out there, to be exposed, however, I think there are better festivals in terms of organisation and variety,” she said. One of Adams’ main concerns is the entertainment in the event. There are people playing music and a specific designated area for their performance but in her opinion, it is not the most pleasant experience.

"There should be good music playing to build good energy in the festival and then people will spend more money,” said Adams. In fact, there was something lacking in the festival, there were people around but there was not a nice atmosphere, it was missing some energy and good music.

The next festival will be in Glasgow from the 26th to the 29th of May. The UK newest food festival will also be in Manchester in June but also for in a Christmas edition later this year, returning to London afterwards.

#liveevent #eatanddrinkfestival