NEWS : Turriff Show this weekend 4-5 August in Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire and the north east of Scotland is a region renowned for some of the UK’s most iconic foods and drinks – Scotch Whisky, Scotch Beef and Scottish Seafood – and some world-famous brands, including BrewDog, Glenfiddich and Mackies' Ice Cream.

An event that will tell the story of these foods is being held on the 4-5 August in the heart of the county. The Turriff Show is a vibrant place to learn about the area’s food, drink, land and sea, as well as meeting the producers behind the brands. The region is also home to a diverse array of artisan makers, including craft gins and beers, baked goods and ice-cream.

Turriff Show is the biggest two-day agricultural show in Scotland, it was founded in 1864 when it was tied into the local livestock market day.

This year’s Show will have close to 50 food and drink exhibitors at the show, including The Teasmith, Scotland’s first gin distilled with hand-picked tea, locally produced meat from Louise’s Farm Kitchen and the Really Garlicky Company.

“There are some remarkable new businesses really bringing the artisan, local food and drink story to life,” explains Sarah Mackie, the curator of the show’s food and drink pavilion. “Granite North Spirits is another gin distiller, they use water from the Cairngorm Mountains, and Brew Toon is a passionate craft beer producer creating a variety of bold, small batch beers from local ingredients.”

She adds that there are some wonderful hidden stories that add to the richness of the region’s food heritage.

“Ice cream is one such tale brought to the north east by Italian immigrants who, poverty-stricken, left their country in search of a better life; we now have some stunning makers in our towns, including Rizza’s, Portsoy and Cullen ices.”

Organisers of the show are encouraging tourists to the area to include a visit to the show as part of their Scottish summer holiday, and also to enjoy the beauty and heritage of the region.

“Visitors to Aberdeenshire will fall in love with our landscape, our people and the story of food and drink,” explains the Show President, and local farmer, Graeme Mackie. “Over a quarter of Scotland’s food and drink exports come from north east Scotland, so the Turriff Show is rightfully one of the best events to learn about, and taste, the country’s food story.”

The Turriff Show attracts around 23,000 people, including those involved in farming as well as many people not involved in farming who enjoy the show for its wide array of activities and the wider 300+ exhibitor stands.

In its 155th year, Turriff Show will have judges spanning the length and breadth of the British Isles casting their eye over 2,687 different species and breeds of animals.

With over 800 sheep, 289 cattle and 720 horse and pony entries, the event hosts some of the best livestock exhibits in the UK.

Other entries include a staggering 345 pigeons, 158 rabbits, 71 cavies, 73 goats, nine collie dogs.

Inside the new Food & Drink pavilion there will be a cookery theatre sponsored by Quality Meat Scotland, the organisation behind Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb, with the flamboyant chef, Kate Moore, keeping the crowds entertained with a full schedule on both days.

Adjoining the Food & Drink Pavilion will be a new area which will include arts, crafts, band stand entertainment with local singers, musicians and dancers, and an area of picnic benches and food vendors for visitors to sit, relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Gates will open from 7am-6pm on Sunday 4th August and Monday 5th August and discounted tickets can currently be purchased via the Turriff Show website; www.turriffshow.org. Children under 15 go free.