Last updated at 16:02, Friday, 07 October 2011

A FESTIVAL promoting local produce is always welcome, wherever in the world you may be.

CHEERS: Beer n Bangers festival at the High Cross Inn JON GRANGER REF: 50025162B002

But in Cumbria, a festival celebrating the region’s two favourite creations is the most welcome of all.

Beer ‘n’ Bangers, which starts today and runs all weekend, highlights the quality of the ales and sausages coming out of the South West Lake District in 2011.

Nowhere can boast a prouder history of sausage production than this county, where 500 years of the Cumberland was recently acknowledged when it was afforded the same protected status as the likes of Melton Mowbray pork pies, Parma ham, and Champagne.

And beer is certainly the drink of choice – with 29 across Cumbria, we can boast about having more breweries per head than any other county.

The part of the county that stretches from Waberthwaite and Foxfield in particular is home to some of our finest exponents of the two.

Indeed, those two villages are responsible for the world-famous Waberthwaite sausage, and the Prince of Wales pub at Foxfield has produced a string of award-winning beers, recognised across the region.

Event organiser Mark Holroyd, tourism development officer for South Copeland, says: “The festival celebrates the distinctiveness of food and drink and local produce in this part of the county.

“It aims to bring new people into the area and gets people exploring – this will boost local producers and venues after a difficult summer season weather-wise.

“It’s a real excuse to indulge in and explore the fantastic award-winning produce of this corner of Cumbria. It’s also an opportunity to learn about where sausage and ale originates and try new flavours.”

The success of the inaugural event meant that this year’s festival can cover a wider range of locations, and it has also attracted some extra special guests.

Mark says: “Last year’s event exceeded our expectations, so this year we’re trying to help people explore more of our pubs and butchers with a network of minibuses between some venues.

“We’ve also created some new family events such as a storytelling session and BBC Chef John Crouch and Lake District Storyteller Laureate Taffy Thomas will deliver a special cookery demonstration at the High Cross Inn at Broughton.

“There will also be two brewery tours, beer and food matching sessions, live music and special offers across a network of 20 different pubs, butchers and eateries.”

The participating pubs, which also include venues around Bootle, Seathwaite, and Millom, will be cooking up some special treats from the region’s butchers.

Different pubs are doing different things, but with the same ultimate goal – to get people talking about local produce.

Angie Anthonisz, landlady of the High Cross Inn, says: “We try to use as much local produce in all our dishes as possible from the butchers in the area.

“One of the big reasons why the Broughton area in particular is so popular is because of the range of beers you can find here.

“All the pubs participate and there are over 100 beers on tap. Everyone in the local community gets involved and there’s always a nice atmosphere.

“We are hoping that it will bring in people from outside the area, because last year we had a lot of people coming in just for the food and this year we’ve all gone to even greater lengths.”

Beer ‘n’ Bangers Festival runs until Sunday. All participating venues and event details are listed online at www.beernbangers.com

First published at 13:58, Thursday, 06 October 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk