‘Great Wight Bite’ food & drink festival putting the island’s food scene on the map

The island has a new food and drink festival called the Great Wight Bite, launching in Cowes on 9^th & 10^th September. Taking place at Northwood House, the festival aims to celebrate every part of the island’s food scene and put the Isle of Wight on the map as one of the UK’s most exciting foodie destinations. To support the launch, organisers are delighted to announce multi award-winning writer, broadcaster and River Cottage’s Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will be joining the foodie fun.

The festival will host a number of stages that will each showcase the breadth of the island’s passion, craft and talent.

A rustic style Chefs Demo Stage will be home to leading island-based chefs including the award-winning chef patron Robert Thompson. For foodies looking to learn new skills there will be a Masterclass Kitchen where you can book a culinary experience with a local expert or producer. Whether you’re looking to sharpen up on your fish filleting skills, try pasta making, a pan-Asian dim sum session, or fancy indulging in a gin masterclass there will be a delicious program of activity across the weekend.

The Great Wight Bite is also excited to be launching a Little Chef’s Den hosted by The Little Gloster where budding cooks of all ages can learn about food, and enjoy a range of fun classes. Festival organisers will be teaming up with the Little Gloster Cookery School, whose creativity and passion for local and sustainable food will be helping curate a brilliant weekend’s entertainment.

Festival go’ers can expect to feast and shop from over 80 stalls spanning cuisines from around the world that include paella, crispy duck, churros, Caribbean, tacos, and oyster bar and tapas, then heading east to Asia with mouth-watering dim sum and bao buns. Expect open fire cooking an American smokehouse and heaps of lip-smacking street food.

Keeping the weekend lubricated will be craft beer from Bembridge based White Knuckle Brewery and Cowes locals Gastronomy will be serving up their signature margaritas. Award-winning English sparkling from Hattingley Valley who have pledged further support as one of the festival’s main sponsors and we are delighted to welcome Cheverton Farm as this year’s headline sponsor.

Sustainability is a key objective for Great Wight Bite festival organisers. With food sourced wherever possible from the Isle of Wight to lower ‘food miles’. Only recyclable materials will be allowed on site along with a huge effort to limit waste going to landfill.

In additional, people will be encouraged to purchase reusable pint cups with profits going to charity and the festival is aiming to run on bio-based diesel that will limiting its carbon footprint.

Set within the Northwood House main lawn will be a pop-up restaurant, lounge and oyster bar from the team at The Smoking Lobster. The Cowes and Ventnor based restaurant will be bringing dishes reimagined through a Pan-Asian lens with a love and passion for local island produce and amazing seafood.

We look forward to welcoming you!