"Live Latin bands and dance demos, plus gardening workshops and
a vintage fair mean there's plenty of fun even if your tastes are
more korma than Demon Red."
The Daily Telegraph, Top 20 UK food festivals for 2018
From 10th -12th August 2018, the UK's biggest chilli festival
returns for its 23rd year. West Dean's Chilli Fiesta is a family
friendly festival set in the beautiful grounds of West Dean, with
full camping facilities in the grounds of West Dean Estate, in the
heart of the South Downs National Park. The Estate is home to West
Dean College of Arts and Conservation and the glorious West Dean
Gardens.
Throughout the weekend, there will be tours of West Dean's iconic
walled gardens, taking place at 1pm and 3pm daily. In addition to
this, there will be gardening talks and presentations from a panel
of experts, where you can pick up advice on how to grow your own
chillies and learn about the varied origins of chilli plants.
Food writer, photographer and gardener, Mark Diacono will
demonstrate how to make the best garden cocktails- with tasters!-
exploring which herbs work best and how to grow them. Another
offering from Diacono is 'A Taste of the Unexpected', where he will
share ideas for growing delicious, unfamiliar edibles, and unusual
varieties of those you may know, including plants such as Szechuan
pepper, Chilean guava, Swiss mint and Scotch lovage.
Award-winning garden and food writer, Lia Leendertz, will also
make a guest appearance at the Chilli Fiesta. Leendertz frequently
writes for The Telegraph and The Guardian as well as writing
several gardening books including The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to
2018, and the cookbook Petal, Leaf, Seed: Cooking with the
treasures of the garden.
Joy Michaud, from renowned vegetable growers Sea Spring Seeds, will
give an insight into growing and tasting, from different chilli
varieties to the best Capsicums to grow and eat, and West Dean
Gardens' resident chilli expert Sarah Wain will explain how best to
care for your chilli plant.
There will be 150 chillies on display in the Victorian Glasshouses
at West Dean Gardens, and a wide range of chilli-related food
stalls can be found onsite. With over 140 stalls, visitors can
expect a great variety of quirky gifts available to purchase, from
hot and spicy foods of the world to chilli plants, seeds and gifts.
To cool down, there will be local ice cream on offer as well as a
selection of bars including Champagne, Cocktails, Los Amigos, Craft
cider and ales, and The potting shed, for gins and matching tonics.
As well as chilli tasting and expert cookery demonstrations, there
will be an outdoor cinema, Latin music, flamenco dancing, face
painting and a vintage funfair.
• Over 30 music and dance acts including: The Fontanas, Katya
and Neil Jones from Strictly Come Dancing, Dawn Gracie, Dust Blues,
Manfred, Fire & Rain, Viva Santana and The Wayfarers.
• Flamenco performances and workshops with professional dancers,
including Latin American, Salsa, and Belly Dancing
• "Goblet of Fire" Pyro display followed by a Pyromusical
(choreographed Fireworks display)
• Outdoor cinema, with showings throughout the day
• Camping and acoustic campsite entertainment
Cookery Theatre
• Hosted by Giles Thomson former Executive Head Chef of the Ritz
Hotel, and Owner and Executive Chef of The Earl of March
• Guest chefs include actor and Strictly Come Dancing Winner, Joe
McFadden; Executive chef of Stein Restaurants, Jack Stein;
Award-winning vegan chef and author Jackie Kearney; MasterChef 2018
contestants Anthony O'Shaughnessy & Sweta Choudhury, Chef and
Author of Japaneasy, Tim Anderson, and the UK's only singing chef
Jean de Rien
• The Chilli Alchemist, will be giving a talk entitled 'How to pick
a hot sauce?'
Children's entertainment
• NEW for 2018: Juggling and circus skills with Dan the Hat
workshop
• NEW for 2018: Drop-in art centre
• Outdoor cinema with popular family films all day
• Vintage funfair (additional charge)
• Face painting
• Punch and Judy shows
Camping
Wake up in the beautiful grounds of West Dean and make a weekend
or mini break of it. Full camping facilities include great showers,
flushing toilets and a 24-hour shop.
campsite on the rolling West Dean Estate is split into three zones:
Jalapeno (close to the event arena and enhancing the festival
atmosphere); Pimento (quiet camping area away from the main arena
ideal for a good night's sleep); and Bell (family friendly and
close to the toilets and showers).
A limited number of pitches are available so early booking is
essential, tickets are available for the full weekend (three
nights) or for one night (Saturday).
early bird rates shown (20% off full price)* *Early bird offer
ends on 27 July 2018 Friday Day Ticket: Adult £14.40 Saturday Day
Ticket: Adult £16.00 Sunday Day Ticket: Adult £14.40 Child Ticket
(any day): £2.00 3-day pass with camping: Adult £92.00 Child £28.00
Note: Children age 4 and under enjoy free entry, ages 5 - 15
require a child ticket. Children are to be accompanied by a paying
adult.
Book online at: http://www.chillifiesta.co.uk/
• West Dean Gardens is part of the Edward James Foundation, charitable trust No. 1126084, also comprising West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, West Dean Estate and West Dean Tapestry Studio.
• West Dean College is situated on the A286, six miles north of Chichester and within easy access of Portsmouth, Guildford, Brighton and London
• All photography is free to use for editorial purposes
For further information, media accreditation, filming opportunities
and high-resolution digital images please contact:
Annie McGrath
Golden² Consulting
10-11 Lower John Street London,
W1F 9EB
[email protected]
+44 (0)207 439 2822