Last weekend I was lucky enough to be trading at Tynemouth Food Festival but found a little bit of time to enjoy myself too!
Tynemouth Food Festival 2017
Held in the grounds of the stunning Tynemouth Priory the food festival is now into it’s 6th year and is going from strength to strength. As I was trading a bit further from home I took the opportunity to discover some new food companies.
My first discovery was the Tynemouth Coffee Company who were obviously 
very local. They roast their beans just down the road in North Shields. Their roasted beans have fabulous names such as Rocket Fuel and Nee Caffeine Hinny. A freshly made Latte from their coffee trailer each morning set me off on the right foot.
Subsequently I very quickly found another local business, The Geordie Banger Company. Established in 2013 on the banks of the River Tyne using age old family recipes Geordie Bangers were born. As headline sponsors of the festival their reputation preceded them, however their products speak for themselves. For lunch I had a 2 Banger Butty from their BBQ which was cooked to perfection and also brought home 3 packs of their bangers. The perfectly named Broon Ale Banger which is pork sausage laced with Newcastle Brown Ale. And the Geordie Banger – pork with leek, mushroom and onion. There are 6 juicy fat bangers in each pack which are truly delicious, perfect for Toad in the Hole.
Last week was National Doughnut Week so it was only right to have enjoyed a 
doughnut. The Doughnut Guy was selling his wares from a converted trailer – 3 freshly cooked mini doughnuts for £3. These were then topped with a choice of sauce – chocolate, lemon or salted caramel and finished with sprinkles. Just a perfect after lunch treat.
Other fabulous treats included a delicious steak burger with all the fixing served in a brioche bun from Fat Hippo. I brought home some Coquetdale Cheese from the Northumberland Cheese Company to make some cheese on toast for lunch. Finally we indulged in a box of chocolate truffles from Ali’s Ark, I took them as a gift for a friend who invited us for dinner.
Tynemouth Priory
The food festival was held inside the grounds of Tynemouth Priory and Castle, a property owned by English Heritage. Before the food festival opened each morning I walked around the site soaking up a bit of local history. Overlooking the North Sea and the River Tyne it dominates the headland. Having been both a religious site and war time defences the Priory & Castle have a diverse 2000 year history. From the ruins of a 13th Century Priory to the restored World War I & II ammunitions store and gun the site has a little bit of everything. That and the views are amazing. Visitors to the Tynemouth Food Festival were lucky to be able to enjoy the Priory site at no extra cost – a food festival and English Heritage attraction for £3.50 per adult and free for under 16’s – bargain!
