Fine fayre at Burghley House

The August bank holiday is a great time to celebrate the start of the harvest season. Where better to spend it than at the Burghley House Fine Food Market?

Stately food will be on offer over the August bank holiday as Burghley House near Stamford hosts its Fine Food Market against the backdrop of one of England’s grandest Elizabethan houses.

The cobbled Courtyard at Burghley will provide the stately setting for this free-to-attend event. In what promises to be a celebration of the very finest local produce, more than 30 quality local food producers will set up their stalls selling regional and award-winning specialities, ranging from home-made cupcakes, cheese and bread to vegetables and meat. The atmosphere of these regular food markets is always bustling yet relaxed.

Fine food…

A regular at the Burghley Fine Food Markets is The Old Fashioned Pudding Company. The company specialises in homemade steamed puddings, from jam to chocolate to spotted dick, all made using simple ingredients with nothing artificial added – just made in exactly the same way granny used to! Market goers may want to try their biggest success: the classic golden syrup sponge. Cote Hill Cheese will be bringing its award-winning cheeses to the market, including its famed soft cheese, the only one made in Lincolnshire. Run by Michael and Mary Davenport, the pair started making cheese in October 2005 using milk from their herd of Friesian, Holstein and Red Poll cows, which feed solely on home-grown forage, including clover-rich pasture. Together with their high standard of cow management, this diet ensures genuinely top quality milk and the some of the best cheeses in eastern England.

Family favourites

Many other produces with a passion for what they do will be sharing their food and drink at the market. All you have to do is come along and taste it! During the Fine Food Market the house and gardens will be open as usual, with selfguided tours of the magnificent staterooms and huge collection of works of art in the house, which has been the home of the Cecil family for more than 400 years. For a splash of summer fun the family favourite Garden of Surprises offers a chance for youngsters to cool off amidst the 32 water features of the Tudorinspired ‘trick’ garden. Combining good food and drink, culture and fun, Burghley House is looking like the place to be this August Bank Holiday.

Burghley Fine Food Market
The Fine Food Market runs over the August bank holiday. It opens at 10am and continues to 4pm. There is no admission charge. For more details visit www.burghley.co.uk or call 01780 752451.