Foodie focus for garden centre’s Taste event

A major showcase of food and drink businesses is set to celebrate Yorkshire produce as a Bradford garden centre plans an event in its newly refurbished food hall.

Tong Garden Centre’s Taste of Tong weekend is scheduled to take place just a week before British Food Fortnight kicks off and will shine the spotlight on the artisan producers from the region who work so hard to create their outstanding products.

The two day event from September 16 to 17 will feature different producers over the weekend.

Food Hall manager, Janice Astbury, said: “We are excited and proud to host our first Taste of Tong celebration of food and drink in the refurbished food hall and welcome some of our fantastic local and regional suppliers in store.

“Over the weekend, visitors should expect to be able to meet the makers and try many food and drink products before they buy, and hopefully discover something they have never tried before.

“With British Food Fortnight being just a week away, our aim is to showcase our regional products.”

Suppliers on the Saturday will include Wold Top Brewery, cheese biscuit makers, Taste of Yorkshire, Marrds Marinades, Naylor’s Brewery, Grandma Wild’s, Gorgeous Cheesecakes and The Yorkshire Baker. On Sunday, Yorkshire businesses including Holmfirth’s healthy flavoured oils and vinegars by Yorkshire Drizzle, Lottie Shaw’s and York Brewery are just some of the makers offering tasters during the day. Fruity Tipples, who make fruit vodka liqueurs, will attend on both days.

British Food Fortnight is a national celebration of British food and drink that is held annually to coincide with harvest festival. The aim of the fortnight is to raise awareness of the benefits of buying and eating from the “home produced British larder.”

The team at Tong have recently celebrated winning SME of the Year in the Bradford Means Business awards.