One of the many joys of living in Guildford is that the town sees numerous different events and shows arriving on a regular basis. One of the ones that residents can look forward to in June is the Surrey Country Craft & Food Show, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like.
If you’re the sort of person that likes crafts that people make, you’ll be able to find more than a few interesting objects on offer. If, on the other hand, you consider yourself to be more of a foodie, you’ll be delighted by the numerous different types of food that you’ll be able to taste and enjoy over the course of the weekend, plus so much more.
Where & When Is It Taking Place?
The really good news for anyone hoping to get along to the Surrey Country Craft & Food Show is that you can get there across any of three days over a weekend in June. The first day is Friday, 19th of June, with events getting underway from 10am and carrying on through until 5pm that evening. Saturday, June 20th sees the same timings in play and is the middle day of the festival of craft and food, with things coming to a close at 5pm on the 21st of June, having begun at 10am that morning. As we’ll explain, there are different activities and events on each day, so if you can make all three, you can choose which is best for you.
In terms of the where, you will be heading to Loseley Park in the south-west of Guildford. More specifically, the event is happening in the grounds of the Tudor manor house that is actually located in the hamlet of Artington. The estate itself is worth a visit, having been acquired by the ancestors of the current owners in the early part of the 16th century. You might well recognise it even if you’ve never been there before, given the fact that it has been used as a location in the likes of the films The Favourite and Rebecca, as well as the TV shows Sense and Sensibility and The Crown, amongst others.
What You Can Expect
This is all about being a family day out, promising tasty food and live entertainment, alongside plenty of other things that those of all ages can enjoy. There are a wealth of artisanal vendors in attendance, producing both unique crafts and delicious culinary delights depending on their area of expertise. The fact that it is in June means that the English weather should, in theory at least, allow for an outdoor event to go off without a hitch. This isn’t one of those quaint and quiet events that sometimes happen in Guildford, seeing plenty of people turning up in order to enjoy everything that is on offer by the chefs and craft makers.
The full adult ticket cost is £10, but you can also pick up an early bird price of £8 if you get in there quickly. Children under the age of 16 get in for free too, making it a reasonably budget-friendly event too. Add in the fact that there is free parking and any dogs on leads are welcome along and you can see precisely why it is that this is an occasion that is fun for all of the family. That is the case even before you start looking at the various stalls on offer, of which there are a huge number. There are areas for the kids to be entertained with the likes of a falconry display and fairground rides, so this really isn’t to be missed.
Crafts & Foods
When it comes to the crafts, there are more than 130 different artisan businesses in attendance, making this the perfect place to head to for a bit of shopping for unique gifts and presents. It is also a chance to celebrate the world of creativity and craftsmanship, ensuring that you can delight in the discovery of new and interesting things that you didn’t even know you needed in your life. There are large outdoor marquees, within which you will find a huge array of handcrafted products that are made with care and love by the artists and creators who sell them. This is not somewhere you will find the generic items you can pick up on the high street.
From homeware and living décor to outdoor items you can put in the garden, there are more things on offer here than you could possibly hope for. If you’re the sort of person who likes to wear interesting items of clothing, then you’ll be pleased with the fashion on offer, whilst unique jewellery can help you to stand out from the crowd. There are also those who specialise in health and beauty items, should you be looking for an alternative way to keep yourself fit and firing. On top of that, there are also those who have created art either with their hands (and brushes) or by taking incredible photographs you won’t find anywhere else.
The reality of the matter is that this is as much about the food and drink as it is about the crafts, so you will find there are more stalls to head to than you will probably have time to visit on one day. That means that you can eat some cakes or pick up some cheese, chow down on a sausage roll or fill a bowl with nuts and seeds. There are oils and vinegars available to sample and then buy, whilst those of you that enjoy a quick tipple will be more than happy to learn that there are award-winning spirits and liqueurs on offer for you to drink and buy. The only tip you can take on board is to head along to this with an empty stomach…