Southwell's Bramley Apple Festival has lots to a-peel

The Bramley Apple Festival is back for a flavour-filled celebration this Saturday.

It takes place in Southwell with apple-themed events in the town’s library, shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs, and the minster.

Festival chairman Roger Merryweather said: “This celebration of the town’s famous apple is an opportunity to bring people together from the town and around to enjoy the activities that will promote the importance of fruit in our diet.”

The festival celebrates the world-famous apple, which was first grown in the town in the garden of a house on Church Street.

With continued support from Southwell Town Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, the festival offers something for everyone.

More than 30 stallholders offering food and drink, including pies, chutney and jams, will be at the minster for the Festival of Food and Drink — which has returned after it was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

The cathedral will also hold a live cookery demonstration from 2018 Masterchef The Professionals winner Laurence Henry, as well as children’s activities in the Chapter House.

Southwell Library will be hosting the Big Draw, an apple art display, a poetry competition and the crowning of the Bramley Apple King, Queen, Prince and Princess in the children’s fancy dress competition.

Window displays created by shops will be on show across the town for visitors to enjoy, alongside a market and live music at the town square.

Morris dancers will be performing in the cathedral grounds and around the town.

Mr Merryweather said: “We were most impressed with the effort made last year by so many of the town’s independent businesses, helping to bring this sense of community and togetherness which the festival can achieve.”

The Bramley’s strong links with Japan continue to grow and this year’s guests include Yuri Kawakami Shotton who is involved in activities between the two countries.

He added: “The link with Japan is quite exceptional because of the role that the Bramley apple plays in preparing a range of dishes in that country.”

Other special events include a tour of Starkey’s Fruit Farm and visits to the original Bramley apple tree, which is maintained by Nottingham Trent University.

The Bramley Apple Festival runs from 10am to 4pm.