Join us for the biggest celebration of the best food and drink the county has to offer at the most significant food festival in the county.
Combine over 100 top quality producers, chef demos, fantastic street food, talks and tastings, live music and free kids activities, the Essex Festival of Food and Drink is the place to be for all foodies and families alike.
All chef demonstrations are free to watch from our 3 cookery demonstration stages hosting visiting and local chefs.
The festival enjoys an exceptional reputation as a place for chefs, food businesses, journalists and bloggers to come together, delivering a delicious opportunity from all walks of life to explore and learn about food.
The festival is a hive of activity and full to the brim with exciting food and drink to try taste and buy. The Only Way is Local marquee offers a top quality shopping experience with exhibitors showcasing their “made in Essex produce” from pies and sausages to sauces, jams and pickles and so much more. A Taste of Anglia Producers village has an array of producers travelling from Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire selling their delicious Artisan food and drink – many of them are Great Taste Award winners and are a must to visit on your journey around the festival.
There are two open air Food Courts where you can eat and drink and enjoy listening to live music whilst resting your weary feet from all your shopping.
Below you’ll find answers to the questions we get asked the most. We’ve tried to make the list complete, but if you have a burning question that we haven’t answered please contact the festival organiser [email protected]
CASH POINTS
Is there a cash machine at Cressing Tempe Barns?
No, the nearest cashpoints are in Witham town centre
CREDIT CARDS
Do you take credit cards?
Many individual vendors do take credit cards but it is useful to have cash with you. At the entrance to the show payments for admission can be made with cash, debit or credit card.
DISABLED VISITORS
There is level access to the venue and there are dedicated disabled parking bays directly opposite the entrance. This area is subject to capacity on the day and is allocated on a first come first served basis. Blue badges must be displayed at all times. For those with disabled passengers, we allow and recommend drivers to drop off guests before parking in the main car park.
Access throughout the site is good with a path running through (although it is uneven in some areas). Ramps are in situ to gain entrance to the big barns which house many of our exhibitors.
There are several grassed areas where it may be more difficult to navigate a wheel chair or disabled scooter.
There is an accessible toilet on site.
To book tickets if you have any specific requirements Call us on 0800 640 5001
Access requirements registerhere
DIRECTIONS TO THE SHOW
Cressing Temple is in the county of Essex in Eastern England. It is between the towns of Witham and Braintree. It is relatively close to several major towns including Chelmsford, Colchester, Cambridge, & Ipswich. The M25 motorway around London is 1/2 hour away. The M11 is a similar travel time. The International port at Harwich which connects to The Hook of Holland is an hours drive.
Postal Address is Cressing Temple, Witham Road, Braintree, Essex CM77 8PD
Cressing Temple is situated on the B1018 between Braintree and Witham. OS Ref: TL799187.
From Colchester: take the A12 south. Leave the A12 at Marks Tey. Then follow signs for Stansted airport. On the Braintree bypass you will see the brown signs for Cressing Temple Barns at the Gallows corner roundabout. At this point you are 10/15 minutes from the Barns. Follow the brown direction signs.
From Chelmsford / London. Leave the A12 at Witham, pass by the petrol station on the right. Take the first exit off the roundabout and enter Witham. Cross the mini-roundabout and pass through two sets of traffic lights to a mini-roundabout beside a car park on the left. Turn left and then pass straight over a double mini-roundabout. At the end of the road turn left and after 100 yards you will be at the Labour Party Hall roundabout.
Pass straight over and then go over the railway bridge. Pass straight over the next roundabout and take the first exit at the next. Keep left at the double mini-roundabouts and leave Witham towards Braintree (B1018). Cressing Temple can be seen from the road after about three miles. Turn right into Temple Lane and then immediately right after fifty yards into the Cressing Temple drive marked with a large black and white sign.
From Stansted take the A120 toward Colchester. Leave the dual carriageway at the Gallows Corner roundabout on the Braintree ring road. Take the 4th exit towards Witham (B1018). You will see permanent road signs (brown) indicating the direction of Cressing Temple Barns. Follow the main road for two miles. Cressing Temple is signposted to the left and the entrance is only fifty yards from the slip road.
Please note there is no bus service to Cressing Temple Barns
DOGS
Can I bring my dog?
We are sorry but no dogs except for assistance dogs are allowed on site
FIRST AID AND MEDICAL FACILITIES
There are trained personnel on site throughout the weekend
GATE TICKET PRICES
Entry to the show – ticket price per day
Adults: £10.00
Over 65’s: £9.00
Disabled: £9.00
Carer: (one carer per disabled person): £9.00
Children 6yrs – 16yrs: £5.00
Children under 6yrs: FREE – no ticket required
OPENING TIMES
The event is open to the public on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th July from 10am – 5pm
PARKING
Free car parking