Culinary champions celebrate county’s food and drink community

Award-winning chefs, discerning diners, foodie fans and local produce supporters will enjoy unique culinary experiences at this year’s Delapré Food and Drink Festival.

Dynamic demonstrations, creative cocktails, live entertainment, house tours, artisan food and drink stalls plus much more will be on the menu at the popular festival, which will take place on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 in the grounds of Delapré Abbey in Northampton.

Bart Polinski, the multi-award-winning Executive Head Chef at Delapré Abbey’s restaurant, Hibiscus, will be in action in the live demonstration kitchen on both days of the festival, creating his delicious dishes in front of a live audience. 

Bart will lead demonstrations of his award-winning dishes from his curated menu starting from 12pm on Saturday 6th June with visitors able to enjoy creative dishes paired with a cocktail masterclass led by restaurant manager Cara West. Bart specialises in combining culinary creations showcasing home-grown produce from Delapré Abbey’s Walled Garden alongside locally sourced, ethically raised meat.

The celebrated chef curates the 2 AA-Rosette awarded, seven-course tasting experience available at Hibiscus and will bring his extensive expertise and culinary skills to the food festival with his engaging, exciting demonstrations. Situated within the Victorian billiard room at Delapré Abbey, Hibiscus has rapidly developed a reputation as one of the county’s most exciting dining destinations.

The Delapré Food and Drink Festival is expected to again attract thousands of visitors from across the region. Over the course of the weekend, guests will be able to enjoy chef demonstrations, a vibrant street food market, outdoor bars, tastings, workshops, family entertainment and live music.

Making its debut this year will be the new Foodies Lounge, an exciting community-focused feature. The dedicated space will feature the abbey’s own Ollie Lock – Kitchen Gardener, focusing on home grown produce, answering your questions and sharing tips. Award-winning chef and author Ryan Riley BEM will also be in the lounge, set to deliver an inspiring session on his groundbreaking work with Life Kitchen, a multi-award-winning initiative he co-founded to support those experiencing taste loss due to illness.

The winners of the Delapré Food Enterprise Competition, from Moulton College, will officially launch their winning creation, the Northamptonshire Scone, during the festival weekend. The winning product will be stocked at The Orangery Café for the next six months, giving visitors the opportunity to continue to savour the student-designed recipe long after the festival finishes. 

This initiative forms part of Delapré Abbey’s wider commitment to supporting skills development, enterprise and pathways into the food and hospitality industries, while also highlighting the important role heritage venues can play in fostering innovation, supporting local supply chains and nurturing future talent. 

Amanda Nicols-Polinska, Deputy Chief Executive at Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud to celebrate the culinary talent that Northamptonshire has to offer. From award-winning independent producers and celebrated local food businesses to the inspiring winners of our Enterprise Competition, the festival truly shines a spotlight on the creativity, innovation and passion that exists across our county. 

“It is especially exciting to showcase the work of our own Executive Head Chef Bart alongside so many talented food providers, all coming together within the unique setting of Delapré Abbey. The festival is about far more than food, it is about championing local enterprise, creating opportunities for emerging talent, and bringing communities together through shared experiences. 

“We’re also particularly excited to launch the new Foodies Lounge this year. Thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund, it gives us the opportunity to bring together conversations around food, wellbeing, sustainability and heritage in a really accessible and engaging way. 

“As Delapré continues to evolve, projects like the Stables development will allow us to support more community organisations, create more opportunities for learning and wellbeing, and continue building meaningful connections.”

To book tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/delapre-food-festival-2026-tickets-1978120371280

For more information about Hibiscus visit https://www.exploretock.com/hibiscus