The food line-up for this year’s iteration of The Downs Festival has just been released…and there are more food options than ever!
The festival returns to The Downs on Saturday, August 31st, with the music line-up including Ms. Lauryn Hill, Grace Jones and IDLES. But it’s not just about the music – there’s a brand new food offering to look forward to, too.
One new addition is The Dining Tent, which offers festival-goers the chance to enjoy one of three six-course tasting menus (meat, vegetarian or vegan), created by Toby Gritten (The Pump House, and The Bird in Hand). Each has been created using carefully sourced ingredients from the best local suppliers, with dishes including Belmont Estate rare breed pork belly; summer vegetable walnut tart with Blue Monday cheese, and charcoal roasted onion with lovage and baked potato broth. They’ll be served at two sittings – 2pm and 6pm – and tickets are priced at £50 per head plus booking fee.
The Downs Bristol co-organiser Tom Paine said, “This is a concept we’ve been really keen to roll out since the very beginning and we’re really happy to be bringing it to the festival this summer. It adds a whole new dimension to the event and with the likes of Toby Gritten involved; we know people are going to love it.”
“Toby is a legend in Bristol, anyone who’s been to The Pump House or the Bird in Hand will know just how good his food is and it’s absolutely fantastic to have a chef of his calibre involved.”
To accompany the tasting menus, there’s a specially curated wine list, created by Andrew Stewart of Stewart Wines. Andrew is one of only 382 Masters of Wine in the world, the highest possible accolade in the field.
As a result of popular demand, The Downs Bristol will also be bringing back its festival picnic boxes – each one packed with tasty treats sourced by Picnic Catering. Suppliers this year include Mark’s Bread, The Handmade Scotch Egg Company, Papdeli, Eat a Pitta, Somerset Charcuterie and the Real Olive Company.
The Downs Bristol will also feature a wide range of high-quality independent food stalls, offering festival-goers an extensive choice of cuisines from Mexican, to jerk chicken, New York style pizza, fresh seafood, churros, and gyros.
Tom added: “Working with local, independent traders is at our very heart. This is a festival by the people of Bristol, for the people of Bristol. This is an ethos that runs throughout the event, from behind the scenes with our production team; through to the traders and stall holders you’ll see at the festival.”
And it doesn’t all finish on the Saturday either. On Sunday, September 1st, festival co-organisers Team Love and Crosstown Concerts will be adding an all-new event to the bill: Madness On The Downs.
Toby Gritten will be involved again, bringing a Sunday lunch offering to this one-off event. Toby and his team will be serving up two-course roast dinners with traditional meat options, as well as vegetarian/vegan choices on the menu. These special festival roasts will be served at two sittings, 2pm and 3pm, with tickets priced at £25 per person plus booking fee.
Tickets for the dining offerings are on sale now. To book a Dining Tent sitting or pre-order a Picnic Box, visit www.thedownsbristol.com for Saturday or www.madnessonthedowns.com for Sunday.
Tickets to attend The Downs festival (Saturday 31st August) are available online priced at £55 plus booking fee and in person from Bristol Ticket Shop. Kids’ tickets are on sale at £15 (plus booking fee).
Reduced price tickets will be available to anyone unemployed or on income support, priced at £29.50. (these tickets are only available in person from Bristol Ticket Shop as supporting documentation and ID will need to be presented).
Tickets for Madness on The Downs are on sale now priced at £39.50 (plus booking fee) via the website or Bristol Ticket Shop.
All tickets are subject to a £1 levy which goes towards the upkeep of The Downs.