A feast of flavours will be on offer at this year’s Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2024. Fresh fish, lobster and crab, Scottish game and Aberdeen Angus beef, handmade chutneys and jams will be on the menu alongside locally produced gin, rum and whisky. More than 40 food and drink vendors will be showcasing their delicious produce at the 31st annual event, which is set to attract 15,000 people over the two days.
David Urquhart, chairman of the Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival commented, “Award-winning products, artisan producers and global tastes will be on display in our very popular Food Fayre at the Back Green, sponsored by Gray Composting Services. We have an excellent selection of food and drink available to try and buy, from Aberdeenshire to the Isle of Skye, Perthshire and Angus – visitors can enjoy a real taste of Scotland this year.
“We also have a great selection of catering options around the harbour, with fresh fish and seafood playing a leading role, alongside wood-fired pizzas, Aberdeen Angus burgers and our very own, award-winning Portsoy ice-cream. Our main sponsor Glenglassaugh Distillery will also be hosting a whisky tasting experiences, where visitors can sample their coastal malt whiskies, which are shaped by land and sea.”
To whet your appetite, here is a selection of the food and drink businesses which will be appearing at the event:
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Zingy-Tingy Beetroot return with their range of delicious, pickled onions, beetroot and cabbage. Hamlyn’s of Scotland Oatmeal’s fine Scottish milled oatmeal bags and products will be available to browse and buy.
From classic beef and onion pie, made with aged, belted Galloway beef to the ultimate classic pork pie or lush lamb and prune, Wark Farm Pies arehandcrafted and truly delicious!
Auld Smokey Pizza will have their classic Italian Neapolitan pizzas. Independent artisan bakery, Isle of Skye Baking Company specialise in a wide range of baked goods on offer, including scones, bread and loaves, quiche and cakes.
Larch from Peterhead, is a homebased cupcakery and chocolate creator, individual cupcakes and cheesecakes will be available at the event. There will be baked goods aplenty at Cakes by Alli-Baba, with traybakes, biscuits, cakes and cupcakes along with savoury sausage rolls and turnovers.
After introducing Aussies to millionaire’s shortbread, Empire biscuits and her own version of Tunnock’s teacakes, with rave reviews, Jules Bakes was established in Australia in 2021. On returning to Scotland last year, Jules Bakes has continued in Aberdeen, making brownies, traybakes and delicious fudge alongside her popular peanut butter bake and caramilk fudge.
Based in Perthshire, Allan’s Chilli Products include award-winning jellies, chutneys and sauces. Rose Cottage Country Kitchen use the finest local ingredients to create their Scottish jams, jellies, chutneys and relishes. Their Highland Malt Whisky and Orange and Ginger marmalades recently took home gold at the Marmalade Awards 2024.
Bogrow Farm produce a range of Scottish charcuterie, using free range meat reared on their farm in the Scottish Highlands, and locally sourced venison. Bringing a taste of Italy to Portsoy is The Pasta Tree from Aboyne. Tikka Box serve homemade Indian street food, cooked Punjabi style, including samosas, pakoras, vegetarian and meat curries.
New to the festival this year is Ritch Cheese and Afternoon Teas with their ‘cheese bomb’ which is a dip or spread enjoyed on crackers or eaten with crisps.
Producing the best honey in the Highlands of Scotland, Loch Ness Honey is a beautiful, soft set honey produced from apiaries in the south Loch Ness hills.
For those with a sweet tooth we’ve got you covered with L.J Toffee, Scottish Tablet, Kilted Fudge Company and The Green Cocoa Team.
Portsoy Ice-Cream will be serving up their famous sundaes, waffle cones and tubs.
Alcohol and fruit liqueurs are available from The Ellon Spirit Company, including strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb and lemon gin liqueurs and their latest products – cherry gin and pineapple liqueur – delicious! A taste of the Caribbean can be found at the Twice Buried Rum Co stand. Distilled in Aberdeenshire, using local botanicals, ripe juicy strawberries from Barra Berries, honey, salted caramel and warming spices.
Ovenbird Coffee Roasters from Glasgow will be serving coffee and their delicious hot chocolate, which is a must try – it’s the best! For the ‘tea lovers’ Highland Tea Box offer high quality, traditional and loose-leaf teas, which includes classic, herbal and green teas.
From Scotland will display wines, spirits, craft ales and cider and ‘shaken not stirred’ Reynolds Corporate, will share their range of ready to drink, pre-mixed cocktails.
Spey Valley Brewery, who are based in the heart of Speyside, will showcase their range of distinctive beers, which are made using the same water and barley as world-renowned whiskies. Take home a bottle of Swally, Belter, Beamer or Sonsie from Scottish microbrewery, Outlandish Brewing Company.
Producing cordial from locally sourced pink elderflowers, Glenkindie Pantry from Strathdon will be serving their refreshing and healthy drink.
The Wee Scottish Cider Company returns with their delicious Seidear, the first Scottish cider created using the champagne method.
Enjoy ‘posh tucker by the sea’ from Stonehaven’s Seafood Bothy, who will be serving up wraps, nachos, rolls and specialities including seafood lasagne. Staying at sea, we welcome Crabs and More from Peterhead with their lobster rolls, crab claws, dressed crab and live and cooked crab and lobster will also be available to buy and enjoy.
If you’re in the mood for a burger then head to The Big Orange, Sarah’s Burger Shack or G&M Whyte, this family run outdoor catering business will also be serving traybakes and muffins with specialist barista coffee from The Italian Coffee Bar.
Returning to the festival for their fifth year is Haydn’s Woodfired Pizzas. Enjoy an authentic taste of German street food from Edelwurst Catering whilst The Little Kitchen from Buckie has fish and chips, along with a range of loaded fries on the menu.
Scottish game can be found at Seasonal Flavour, with their full of flavour rolls and freshly made food. Café Sol from Aberdeen will be serving espresso coffee, loose leaf tea, hot chocolate, summer iced drinks and bakes and cakes.
Desserts and sweet treats are available at Popsey’s Pancakes, and enjoy juicy strawberries and cream from Deeside Soft Fruit, along with waffles, pancakes, muffins and crepes.
Across in the Kids’ Zone, Mo & Wendy’s Street Food will be keeping hungry children, and parents, refuelled with their range of burgers, hot dogs, chips, toasties, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and whippy ice-cream.
The festival will host the world-famous Red Arrows Aerobatic Team on Saturday 22nd June 2024. It is the only Scottish public display performed by the team, during their very busy diamond anniversary campaign. This new nine-aircraft show will feature manoeuvres not seen for a generation, in their routine which changes each year.
Around 30 traditional boats from across the UK will sail into Portsoy, including 17th century Fifie herring drifter Reaper, which will make the journey from the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, Fife. Also returning to the festival is White Wing, a 33ft Baldie and setting sail from Wick in Caithness will be 19th century Fifie and festival favourite, the Isabella Fortuna.
Celtic rock band Skipinnish, headline the Big Gig on the Back Green on Friday 21st June 2024. The band has spent the last year touring the UK and across Europe, playing to sell-out crowds and appearing at some of Britain’s biggest music festivals. Tickets are on sale now from the festival website www.stbfportsoy.org for £38. This is a licensed event for over 18s only.
This year’s festival is sponsored by Glenglassaugh Distillery, Event Scotland, Gray Composting Services Ltd, Puffin Wood Fuels, Moray West, Ocean Winds, Portsoy Thrift Shop, Urquhart Joinery Services, Portsoy 75 Club, Hamlyn’s of Scotland Oatmeal, Messrs J Smith of Sandend, Aspire Restaurant, Whisky Cask Pens, Highland Tweedery, Broadshore Hub, Bellrock Offshore Wind Farm, Camwater Ltd, Davidson Reid Auctions and Crisp Malt.
Tickets are discounted when purchased in advance online, to book visit www.stbfportsoy.org. For festival updates follow @stbfportsoy or #ahoyportsoy on social media.
