LEEDS INDIE FOOD - #LIF16

A CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENT FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL TO RETURN IN MAY – FULL LISTINGS REVEALED

GRAB YOUR PASSPORT FROM THE NEW MERCH STORE

Leeds’ vibrant independent scene is set unite once again for a mouth-watering celebration of food and drink, marking the return of the city’s unique Leeds Indie Food festival from 12th to 30th May 2016. Last year’s event was the first of its kind in the country, and organisers are planning even more foodie fun this time around.

With over 130 events across 19 days the festival is back bigger and better with more venues, more events and more choice. The full listings are out now and tickets go on general sale at 6pm, Wednesday 6th April.

May also sees the return of the Festival Passport scheme, giving festival-goers the chance to try new venues and explore the city’s food scene by offering exclusive discounts, freebies and offers at every Leeds Indie Food venue. The Passports were a great success last year, with the top performers ending up with stamps from 75 venues, and are on sale this year for £10.

This year’s festival is being run in partnership with Leeds BID (Business Improvement District) and Leeds City Council a who are backing the festival in support of Leeds’ thriving independent business community and blooming food and drink scene.

The festival is once again hosting a staggering variety of events, so everyone should find something to sink their teeth into. This year’s highlight must be Keg Vs Cork, a brand new mini festival on 20th and 21st May billed as a ‘Celebration of Booze’. The event sees some of the city’s best craft beer bars (North Bar, Northern Monk, Tall Boys Beer Market, Bundobust) facing off against wine from The Reliance and Latitude Wine, plus a pop-up from Aperol/Campri, music from High and Lonesome Festival and food from Ox Club all at Sheaf St. Cafeteria.

The culturally inclined will be able to check out City of Cake, a unique cake-sculpture exhibition of Leeds architectural landmarks popping up in Trinity Leeds. This tasty project is a collaboration between The Gallery at Munro House and cake artists Tattooed Bakers, and is sure to wow visitors.

Those looking for family fun can head to Chapel Allerton Primary School’s School Diner street food festival, grab a bite to eat at the family-focused Pop Up and Play Café at Leeds Dock or get the felt tips out with children’s art magazine Anorak for a food-themed illustrated colouring wall at Colours May Vary.

Festival organisers are also keen to get you thinking, with a critical documentary programme from Leeds Film Fringe where discussion and film screenings will explore issues of food security and global agriculture. The problem of food waste will also be raised by four events from The Real Junk Food Project, who are collaborating with businesses including The Brunswick and White’s Deli to feed festival goers with intercepted produce on a Pay As You Feel basis. Northern Monk are even brewing a special beer from waste bread for their Real Junk Food Banquet.

Beer geeks will also be able to get their fix. As well as the dazzling array of craft beer on offer at Keg Vs Cork, there’ll be beer and food matching from Ilkley Brewery with the #LIF16 #Beermatch at The Cross Keys, tap takeovers from Runaway, Squawk and Track at The Turk’s Head, a chance to catch up with Founders Brewing Co at Founders X Bundobust and even a beer-y bus tour taking in seven North Bar venues with seven iconic drinks along the way.

Matt Dix, Leeds Indie Food

“This year’s Leeds Indie Food is looking full to the brim. We’ve taken the best bits of last year’s festival and mixed them up with new ideas and new participants, and all the businesses involved are raring to go. We’ve got a great mix of events, from fine dining to food culture, so everyone should find something to love. We think we’re doing something truly unique – no other city celebrates its independents in this way, and our aim is to help businesses collaborate and to shout about the amazing things they’re doing.”

Andrew Cooper, Chief Executive LeedsBID said:

“The Leeds Indie Food Festival has developed and grown into one of the outstanding and unique events in Leeds, celebrating the wealth of talent and innovation the city has to offer from across an incredibly diverse range of businesses in the heart of the city. LeedsBID is delighted to be able to bring enhancement to this major event, and help to grow an already strong fixture in the events calender and drive the benefits for businesses, visitors and all city users putting Leeds at the international forefront of the food industry.”

Tickets on General Sale 6pm Wednesday 6th April - http://leedsindiefood.co.uk/

Buy Leeds Indie Food Merchandise (including the passport) - http://leedsindiefood.awesomedistro.com/ 

Leeds Indie Food Festival will take place on May 12 – 30 2016

www.leedsindiefood.co.uk  - The passport is available online now priced £10.00

Twitter: @leedsindiefood / Instagram: @leedsindefood / Facebook: /leedsindiefoodfestival

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