Ledbury Celebration 2025 – “This is the last day of magic”

You are invited to Ledbury’s very friendly and local food and drink festival with added poetry and music taking place again in the historic setting of St Katherine’s, Ledbury by the 15th century Master’s House on Sunday 6th July – the last day of the Ledbury Poetry Festival.

This vibrant event has become a highlight for both residents and visitors alike, offering a delightful array of attractions.

You will discover:

A small but special outdoor food and drink market featuring the best of local produce and street-food for you to enjoy at the event, while enjoying the entertainment, or take home to enjoy later.
Attention-seeking “al fresco” poetic entertainment provided by Ledbury Poetry and featuring Lily Redwood, Aaron Corbett and Mohan Mohammed
A magical miscellany of musical entertainment featuring local musicians Four Crying Out Loud, The Footprints Jazz Band and the Hey Yahs Acoustic Trio, plus a dance performance by local dance company 2Faced Dance as part of their Towns Alive season.
Masefield Moments celebrating Ledbury’s Poet Laureate.
And more, including for youngsters Kid’s Kitchen and other interactive activity.

This popular FREE event is organised by a partnership of Ledbury Food Group, Ledbury Poetry and Ledbury Town Council, who are all aiming to delight you at this festival within a festival.

The Ledbury Celebration takes place on Sunday 6th July between 11.00am to 4.00pm in St Katherine’s Car Park and Square, just off Ledbury High Street – entertainment from 12 noon.

The full programme is will be available on this website later in June.
Parking at public car parks in Ledbury is free on Sundays

With thanks to our partners:

May 27, 2025May 28, 2025

Notice of our Annual General Meeting (10 June)

We are holding our AGM on Tuesday 10^th June at 5.30pm at the Market House, High Street. Ledbury (upstairs).

You will be most welcome to join us for this important event. It’s an opportunity to find out who we are and meet the new committee for the year 2025/26.

We are always open to new ideas to support our aims of encouraging local food and drink production and retail.

In the past year the activities of the Group have focused on our two key events The Ledbury Big Breakfast and The Ledbury Celebration, together with talk events held jointly with Sustainable Ledbury on issues affecting food production and supply assisted by the Herefordshire Food Alliance.

Like many groups our ability to do more is limited by our resources – contact us if you have an interest in or idea for how we publicise our wonderful local food and the threats to and opportunities for sustainable food production.

Agenda for the Annual General Meeting of Ledbury Food Group:

Time and Location: 5.30pm at the Market House, High Street, Ledbury (upstairs)

(Nearest off street parking – St Katherine’s Car Park)

Apologies
Report from the Secretary
Report from the Treasurer
Approval of Accounts for the period to 31^st March 2025
Election of a Committee for the year 2025 to 2026
Election of Officials for the year 2025 to 2026 – Chair, Secretary, Treasurer
Any other business

Please advise me –

If you wish to stand for a committee member or official of Ledbury Food Group. Please note that Committee Members and Officials must be members of the Food Group
If you have Any Other Business that you wish to raise at this meeting

Griff Holliday, Secretary – 01531 633637

griffholliday@btinternet.com

27^th May 2025

The Secretary’s Report and the Treasurer’s Report will be circulated prior to the meeting.

May 8, 2025

Keeping our Watercourses clean…talk on 15th May

Essential to good food production is a reliable supply of good quality, unpolluted water. Sadly, this is not always the case for a multiplicity reasons.

Sustainable Ledbury invite you to a talk to find out more about the problems of and solutions for keeping watercourses clean.

A representative of local water company Severn Trent Water will give a talk “Managing our Watercourses” on Thursday 15th May at 6.30 p.m. in the Burgage Hall, Church Lane, Ledbury.

Severn Trent Water are responsible for drainage and wastewater in the Ledbury area.

Come along to find out more, ask your questions or join in the discussion.

Entry will be free with donations requested to cover the cost of the hire of the hall.

Nearest Car Park – St Katherine’s Car Park, access off Bye Street. Public car parks are free after 6pm in Ledbury

April 23, 2025May 8, 2025

The Big Apple invites you to Blossomtime – 4th & 5th May

This popular celebration of our apple growing heritage takes place this year in Putley and Aylton on 4^th and 5^th May. Both days there is much going on from 10am to 5pm including:

guided walks through the orchards
tastings and sales of local perries and ciders
local arts and crafts
demonstrations and talks
pollinator display
collaborative art installation

You can find what’s happening and when at the Big Apple website –www.bigapple.org.uk.

Do come and enjoy the flowering of Spring! Get your entry pass to all this at Putley Parish Hall (Adults £5. Accompanied Children Free)

And how to get to Blossomtime…

April 9, 2025

Two local events happening soon

3 Acres and a Cow – Thursday 24^th April

An interesting event in Malvern presents a history of land rights – the root of all food production. Brief details are in the poster below or go to threeacresandacow.co.uk.

Local Market in Ledbury – Saturday 12^th April

Roger and Lynn at The Barn are running a local market this Saturday in St Katherine’s Square outside The Barn, Ledbury. (Just off the High Street)

They have advised us that those present will include Peter Cooks Bread, Jill the Pie Maker, Greggs Pitt cider and perry, Double Trouble dog treats, Andrew King chocolates, Bromyard raw milk and yoghurt, Stephen Bull pastries and the Bowler Hat farmer. There will also be fruit and veg, flowers and plants plus a blacksmith.

Ledbury Charter Market will also be running on this day under the Market House and in the High Street.

February 16, 2025February 16, 2025

The Pros and Cons of Regenerative Farming

On Monday 27^th January, Herefordshire Food Alliance (HFA), Sustainable Ledbury and ourselves joined together to host a showing of the film “Six Inches of Soil”.

This was followed by a thought-provoking discussion with five local “growers” on the conclusions from the film and the challenges in adopting a more sustainable way of farming.

Thanks to the many who attended this sell-out event and to HFA for putting together the tasty food featuring local produce from local producers.

A report on the meeting and the outcomes of the discussions can be found at the HFA website at https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/blog/yet-another-sell-out-on-our-six-inches-of-soil-roadtrip.

You can sign up there to receive regular updates on the Herefordshire food scene and ways you can get more involved.

More about the film “Six Inches of Soil” is available at www.sixinchesofsoil.org/impact-campaign.

February 5, 2025February 5, 2025

Ledbury Celebrates the Ledbury Big Breakfast

Last weekend (Friday 31st January to Sunday 2nd February) breakfasters were out and about to enjoy what was on offer at this year’s Ledbury Big Breakfast.

Becoming a “traditional Ledbury event”, we celebrated in winter weather far better than Ledbury has recently experienced.

17 Venues in Ledbury and district took part this time and most venues reported good business – a blessing for the many small businesses joining the event at a difficult time of year.

Dishes on offer for a sit-down breakfast stretched from the full English Breakfast through eggs in many ways, smashed avocado, banana pancakes, purple toast, kippers, Shakshuka and so much more. What did you enjoy?

Both butchers in town – Gurneys and Wallers – created special breakfast products, and on the Friday, the Country Market served cooked breakfasts at the Burgage Hall. Local Produce to buy for a breakfast at home also featured at a well-supported Hellens Produce Market on the Saturday, and from our delis in town – Ceci Paolo and Handley Organics.

Ledbury Community Hub added to the celebrations for the first time with a Boozy Brunch and Bingo on Sunday at the Hub.

High sheriff and Mayor visit Shell House Kitchen

The High Sheriff of Herefordshire Patricia Churchward joined the Town Mayor of Ledbury Councillor Stephen Chowns, County Councillor Liz Harvey, local resident Nat Hone, The Town Clerk and members of Ledbury Food Group for breakfast to launch the event. The High Sheriff and the Mayor then visited a number of businesses taking part. They also visited the Ledbury Food Bank to learn how this initiative supports those in need in and around Ledbury.

Our thanks to all the businesses who made this year’s Ledbury Big Breakfast another great success – showing off the quality and variety of Ledbury and district’s local food offering. Thanks too to all who supported the businesses taking part by coming out and finding your breakfast.

Smiles after a busy breakfast at Trumpet Tearoom

Lastly, our apologies to those who were not able to get their first choice on Saturday – sadly there is a limit to capacity in town for this popular event.

Your Feedback is welcome at ask@ledburyfoodgroup.com.