YEAR’S BIRMINGHAM CHILLI FESTIVAL

Brindleyplace has named Aston Manor Cider as the sponsor for its fiery Chilli Festival that will take place on the mixed-use estate this summer.

The hot festival will make its return to Brindleyplace on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 July. Now in its third year, The Chilli Festival is organised with the support of market operator, Sketts, local producer Holly & The Ivy and chilli specialists, Fire Foods.

The free family event will feature a variety of stalls selling chilli-inspired food, along with live music and cookery demonstrations from Brindleyplace restaurants – not to mention the ever popular and highly competitive chilli eating competition!

Gordon Johncox, Managing Director, Aston Manor Cider, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this year’s Chilli Festival. Cider compliments spicy food fantastically and we are keen to showcase how our products can be matched with a range of recipes. To help celebrate the event we’ll be developing some exclusive recipes with some of the bars and restaurants at Brindleyplace and of course we’ll be offering some much needed refreshment to those taking part in the chilli eating contest.”

Providing cooling refreshments, Aston Manor will be offering visitors samples of its high quality cider throughout the course of the festival and will be hosting a chill out zone where families can cool off after enjoying some of the spicy treats.

The cider producer will also be working with restaurants in Brindleyplace over the next few months to create some chilli and cider infused recipes which will be available at the festival.Mexican streetfood restaurant, Chilacas, is currently working on a pork marinade using cider from Aston Manor which will be one of the dishes available at the festival.

Ailsa Raine, marketing executive at Brindleyplace said: “We are really pleased that such a well-known brand in theMidlandswishes to support the Birmingham Chilli Festival this year. The free event has proved very successful over the last couple of years so it’s great that it will be returning to the estate for its third year.

 “All our summer events at Brindleyplace are free, meaning local families can come and get involved without worrying about additional costs over the summer holidays. There’s plenty for everyone to get involved with and, for those brave enough, we’ll soon be looking for people to take part in our chilli eating competition so watch this space!”

Russell Dean of Sketts Quality Events said “It’s wonderful to see a concept take off the way the Chilli Festival has and to attract such a great sponsor only proves its going from strength to strength.”

Brindleyplace will be holding a host of events over the summer including local produce markets at the end of every month, a fundraising boat race along the canal during its Dragonboat Festival and its Outdoor Film Festival, along with screening Wimbledonin one of its public squares.  For more information on all the summer events at Brindleyplace visit www.brindleyplace.com

For further information please contact Lucie Sissons at Core on 0121 232 5000 or email luciesissons@core-marketing.co.uk

Watch the 2012 Birmingham Chilli Festival on You Tube – http://youtu.be/TNR8we22xD8

Sketts Quality Events is hoping to attract first-time stall holders, budding entrepreneurs and community organisations to take advantage of some fantastic deals on having a stall for the day.

In total 15 stalls will be offered for just £10 each for the day to community stall holders or entrepreneurs at each of the four markets.

The Love Your Local Market events will take place at :

• Kenilworth on Thursday, May 16
• Southam on Tuesday, May 21
• Banbury on Thursday, May 23 & Saturday 18th
• Warwick on Saturday, May 25

And thanks to the support of Warwick District Council, the community stalls allocated at Warwick and Kenilworth markets will be completely free to the stall holders.

Paul Skett, Sketts Senior Partner, said: “The Love Your Local Market concept is a great one, and we want to see a good range of community stalls, and local entrepreneurs taking advantage of this opportunity to take on a stall for the day. You never know, it could become a permanent thing. Our market managers and local business advisors will work with the new traders to try and help them with their plans.

“We are planning a range of activities for the Love Your Local Market events, with live music, food and drink and there will also be children’s rides at the Warwick Saturday market.”

There will also be a free prize draw at each of the markets where a lucky visitor will have the chance to pick up a hamper full of market goodies.

The national 2013 Love Your Local Market campaign is led by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) and backed by Central Government and the wider market industry.

The campaign aims to attract new market traders and also aims to highlight the importance that markets play in the heart of the local community, not only for retail, but as valuable community assets providing a focal point in many town centres.

Graham Wilson OBE, Chief Executive of the National Association of British Market Authorities, said: “Love Your Local Market is the biggest market event in a generation. It gives people the chance of a new career and demonstrates how important that market is to the local community.”

For more information contact info@sketts.co.uk or call 01789 267000.

The Fayre will take place in Solihull High Street and the grounds of St Alphege Church, Solihull, on Saturday 20 April from 11am.

Sketts Quality Events will be running a Fine and Local Food Fair in Mell Square as part of the day’s events, with an array of choice on offer. See the video below for an idea of just what will be on offer…

Sketts – Fine Food Markets – Version 4 from Simon Cox on Vimeo.

In addition to the fine food market in Mell Square, Sketts will also be staging the popular craft market in High Street.

The day of celebrations will include a re-enactments camp set up on the church grounds from the Sealed Knot, a jolly Jester, traditional medieval music, Morris dancing, a knight on horseback, a balloon modeller, a free craft activity, children’s rides, a craft fayre, face painting, a barbecue and much more.

A licence to hold an annual Fayre was granted to the people of Solihull in 1242 by a charter of Henry III and marks the feast day of Alphege, patron saint of the parish church of Solihull.

Alphege was a Saxon Archbishop who died in 1012 at the hands of the Danes for refusing to allow his impoverished flock to raise a ransom for his release.

He is still honored today as a martyr for social justice and reconciliation and the millennium of his martyrdom was marked across the globe last year.

Sketts are new members of Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) but have already been shortlisted in the organisation’s Diamond Awards.

In association with Heart of England Fine Food (HEFF), Sketts has been selected to stage high quality market events throughout the year in central Birmingham’s Brindley Place, Kenilworth and Broadway as well as in Solihull’s High Street and Mell Square.

These events are for the true ‘foodie’ who wants fine quality, traceability and genuine knowledgeable traders to buy their food and drink from.

HEFF has named Sketts as one of three finalists for their Diamond Awards EXCEL category for their successful Solihull Fine Food market, which only launched in November.

Paul Skett,  Sketts Senior Partner, said: “We are proud to continue to be recognised regionally and nationally as a provider of quality markets. As a team we work hard to create events, festivals and celebrations that bring footfall to the centre of large towns like Banbury, Warwick, Birmingham and Solihull, and help boost the tourism spend in country towns like Pershore.”

Bonnie Joplin, HEFF marketing executive, said: “The HEFF Diamond Awards exist to reward and recognise excellence in the food industry across the Heart of England region.

“Sketts is a finalist for the EXCEL Award, which is a special accolade reserved for those businesses who have proved that their marketing campaigns and activities get results.

“Sketts impressed the judges with their commitment to developing vibrant, well attended markets and events for the local communities that they work in, thereby creating excellent opportunities for people to buy and sell local produce.  The winner will be announced at the Diamond Awards Gala Dinner at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on 18 May hosted by Joanne Malin from BBC Midlands Today.”

Sketts’ active role in Pershore’s annual celebration of the plum harvest has been previously recognised by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA), having won the title ‘Best Speciality Market’ in 2011.

This year the Festival won for the second year running the Best Event And Festival Category in the Worcestershire Welcome Awards and is automatically entered into the National finals.

Sketts is a key partner in the working group that every summer since 1996 puts together the Pershore Plum Festival. This traditional celebration, taking place among the celebrated Worcestershire orchards, has over the years attracted huge interest both from the national media and from the general public, making it an important tourist event in the region.

Angela Tidmarsh, Chair of the Festival, said: “We are delighted that Sketts plays such an important role in our award winning Festival, not only providing quality goods but also quality entertainment.

“Thousands of people travel from miles around just to visit our event and so many of them visit to take advantage of the produce that is on sale in the Farmers Market.  Long may our association continue and we look forward to welcoming visitors to this year’s Festival on August Bank Holiday Monday.”

The CRAVE (Craft Retro Antiques Vintage Event) market promises to bring a new experience for locals and visitors alike in Warwick’s town centre.

The CRAVE market, run by Sketts Quality Events in partnership with Warwick District Council and Antiques to Go, will run on Sundays throughout the summer in Warwick until Sunday, August 18.

Paul Skett, Sketts Senior Partner, said: “We’re excited about this new idea for Warwick to bring a market into the town regularly on a Sunday.

“This kind of market worked very well in Banbury, and we’re hopeful it will be embraced in Warwick.

“We’ve got a lot of plans to make it an event to travel to, with live music, face painting and other entertainment. We’re even looking at running a live charity auction very soon.”

In a bid to attract local traders and craftspeople Sketts is offering special reduced rates for anyone booking a stand who is from the Warwick area.

Contact info@sketts.co.uk or call 01789 267000 for any further information.

We must not forget to mention our regular traders at the market. They have stood through the snow and cold, the sun will shine soon! Also thank you to Cherwell council for helping grit the market square during this freezing winter! At your weekly markt you can find: Fruit & Veg, Plants, Bedding & Towels, Bags & lugage, Flowers & plants, Jewellery, cards & stationary, phone accesories, refreshments & breads and many many more!

Love your Local Market will be back this year in Banbury

Banbury                      Saturday 18th May &  Thursday 23^rd May 2013

Banbury Market also has its own fantastic website: http://banburymarket.co.uk/ 

If any traders has any news/ offers or would just like to tell the world about your company please e-mail in with your stories to info@sketts.co.uk

Finally we are now in the process of extending our radio advert with Banbury sound, however we have had thsi revamped – listen carefully, its very catchy!

BICESTER; Sheep St

Saturday 10^th August.

Now proving itself as a real favourite in the heart of this Oxfordshire affluent town.  Street entertainment and promotions planned.

 BIRMINGHAM; Digbeth

St. Patricks Parade, Sunday 17^th March

New to Sketts but a firmly established event and possibly the best St.Patricks parade outside of New York!  The Parade is the culmination of a weeklong Irish festival of music, dance, comedy, food and family events around Birmingham’s city centre and Millennium Point.  Festival activities will take place throughout the week to the build up to the main event: The Parade – which is uniquely on St Patrick’s Day itself. www.stpatricksbirmingham.com

 BRINDLEYPLACE, BIRMINGHAM

Dragon Boat Race, Saturday 22^nd June

This event is a corporate fundraising event which is now in its 14^th year. Approximately 4,000 people came to watch 22 teams race along the canal throughout the day with music and street entertainment.  

 DROITWICH; Victoria Square

St Richards Day, Saturday 4^th May

This event lead by Wychavon District Council encompasses the whole town including a car rally, farmers market, duck race and medieval entertainment.

.  Highlights of the event include large display of classic and vintage cars; medieval entertainment; farmers, craft and Italian markets; community stalls; canal boat trips and much more.  New for 2013 will be a boating festival attracting canal boats from across the region along with a static engine display and real ale bar.

KENILWORTH; Warwick Road

Kenilworth Festival; Saturday 11^th May

Full road closure of the main thoroughfare for this event offering crafts, food & Drink. Coinciding with the annual festival with many activities throughout the town.

KIDLINGTON; High St, Oxfordshire

Craft fair; Saturday 15^th June

An affluent town in Oxfordshire that has seen this summer event grow every year with extra activities.

SOLIHULL; High St & Mell Square

St Alphege Fair; Saturday 20^th April

Gardenfest; Saturday 4^th May (Only Related goods can be sold)

Midsummer Fair; Friday 12^th & Saturday 13^th July

High Summer Fair; Saturday 24^th August

These well established craft events are becoming a firm favourite with street entertainment including a dance festival on the Midsummer fair.

 SUTTON COLDFIELD; The Parade

Home & Garden; 18^th May;

In conjunction with the Grand Opening of the 3 year library renovation.

*There will be a speciality section for any book/literature products*

 UPTON-ON-SEVERN, Waterside

Folk Festival; Sunday 5^th & Bank Hol Monday 6^th May

Jazz Festival; Saturday 29^th & Sunday 30^th June

A new location to our list. Very scenic, well attended festivals

WARWICK, Smith Street

Warwick Folk Festival, Saturday 27^th July

A highlight of the folk festival calendar which attracts 1000,s of visitors to the many activities throughout the town with a strong music and dance element.  www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk

My New Years Resolution is to make sure i blog more… so here it goes!

• Banbury Victorian Market
• Bicester Edwardian Market
• Kidlington Christmas & Curios Market

The perfect opportunity to do some Christmas shopping.