Taste Cumbria Summer Festival: Your guide to what's on this weekend

The food and drinks extravaganza will be held on King Street, the Market Place and the harbourside tomorrow and Sunday.

Guest chefs including Jon Fell, John Crouch and Gary McClure will be cooking up a storm at free demonstrations over the weekend.

Mr Fell said: "I am absolutely looking forward to coming over the weekend. The people of Whitehaven are great."

"I love my seafood and fish. We are right on the harbour and we have some great fish up and down the coast, so I'll make making a good fish and seafood dish!"

There will also be a host of stalls, entertainment, a beer festival and children's activities on offer.

The festival is organised by CN Events, part of CN group, the publishers of Cumbria Life and and Taste Cumbria magazine.

It is supported by Whitehaven Town Council and Copeland Council. It has also attracted funding from Stoller Newport News Nuclear, part of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

The festival builds on the success of the Taste Cumbria events around the county, which are held in association with Cumbria Life.

Over the weekend, the West Cumbria branch of CAMRA (campaign for real ale) will be distributing free guides to support the towns' pubs and inns that serve real ale.

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Your guide to what's on this weekend:

The producers market will take place on King Street and the Market Place on both days: Saturday 10am until 5pm and Sunday 10am until 4pm.

Demonstration stage on the harbourside

Saturday 22 July

11am – Kevin McAvoy cooks up a storm with Jeffersons Rum

Noon – Local chef prepares locally sourced fish

1pm – Jon Fell, The Green Room, Rosehill Theatre

2pm – Helen Askew, Tipsy Filly vintage bar

3pm - Kevin McAvoy cooking on a budget

Sunday 23 July

11am – Gary McClure, Cumbrian food ambassador

Noon – Local chef prepares locally sourced fish

1pm – Jon Fell, The Green Room, Rosehill Theatre

2pm – Helen Askew, Tipsy Filly vintage bar

3pm – John Crouch, spice expert

Beer festival at the Hub, on the harbourside 11am to 5pm on both days.

Entry is free, tasting notes will be available. There will be the chance to taste cask ales, ciders and lagers, handpicked by the Tractor Shed Brewing team, with alternatives for non-beer drinkers.

There’ll be live music from these local musicians too:

Saturday 22 July

Noon – Chasing Springtime

1pm – Sophia Brenan

2pm – Chris James

3pm – Gavin Gray

Sunday 23 July

Noon – Beachmaster

1pm – Twitchers

2pm – Clare Louise Roberts

3pm – Joe McCorriston

Wine tastings will be taking place at Richardson's of Whitehaven, on Lowther Street.

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Children’s activities are set to take place at the Hub: Saturday 10am until 5pm and Sunday 10am until 4pm.

Entertainment for the littlest food festival visitors from Rainbow Jelly. There’ll be arts and crafts as well as drama workshops and story telling with a foodie theme.

The Whitehaven Harbour Motor Show will also be taking place on the harbourside on Saturday from 10am until 5pm, and on Sunday, from 10am until 4pm.

This is a chance for people to check out the latest models from some of Cumbria’s biggest and best car dealers.

The motor show is now in its seventh year and there’ll be competitions, street theatre and fairground rides too.

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Car parking is free at the Ginns - Kells end of Coach Road - says Copeland Council.

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