With just four weeks to go until the inaugural Taste Dunoon festival, organisers are putting the final touches in place for what promises to be a vibrant, free-to-attend celebration of the town’s food and drink scene.
Taking place on 25 and 26 July, the new festival will be officially opened by Scotland’s National Chef Gary Maclean, with Castle Gardens now confirmed as the principal venue.
A large marquee on the Castle Gardens lawn will showcase local food and drink producers, while street food traders and drinks vendors will be located in the adjacent Queen’s Hall car park. Across the weekend, visitors can also enjoy a varied programme of cooking demonstrations, talks, tastings and workshops hosted within the Queen’s Hall.
Ciorsdan Fagan of Dunoon Presents said: “The marquee for the food and drink producers will be on the Castle Gardens lawn with the street food and drinks vendors positioned in the adjacent Queen’s Hall car park.
“Cooking demonstrations, talks, tastings and workshops will take in the Queen’s Hall and there’s a host of other exciting, associated activities and events in various locations around Dunoon.”
Alongside the main festival, a series of fringe events will take place across the town. The Dunoon Rhubarb Festival will be held at the Pop Shop on Hillfoot Street on Saturday 25 July from 11am to 4pm, featuring competitions, talks and tastings.
Meanwhile, the Victorian pier pavilion will host an arts and crafts exhibition from members of the Cowal Art Network, running from 10.30am to 4.30pm across the weekend.
Local hospitality businesses are also getting involved. The Rock Café will host a seafood takeaway special on Saturday evening from 6pm, while the Cruive Cafe and Bar will welcome local covers band SOAP from 9pm until midnight. The award-winning Chatters pop-up restaurant will open from 24 to 25 July, offering evening sittings by advance booking.
Hazel Salisbury of the Rock Café said: “We’re looking forward to Taste Dunoon and it’s great to be part of an event that is sure to become a regular fixture in the town’s calendar.”
Festivalgoers can also attend a celebration ceilidh at the Argyll Hotel on the Saturday from 5pm to 7pm, with tickets priced at £15.
In addition to the food and drink offering, the weekend will feature Highland dancing displays, as well as performances from local pipers and buskers, creating a lively festival atmosphere throughout the town.
Ciorsdan added: “There will be displays of Highland dancing during the festival as well as local pipers and buskers. There’s so much to see and do at a festival that’s creating a real buzz across Dunoon and further afield.
“The arrival of the PS Waverley from Glasgow on the Friday beforehand means visitors can arrive in true style and witness the festival taking shape.
“Three local businesses have become official sponsors of the festival and we’d like to say a big thank you to Winston Churchill Venison, bakers Black of Dunoon and electrical retailers Gibsons for their generous support. They have over 220 years of association with Dunoon between them.
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“We are already hearing stories about visitors to Dunoon and Cowal booking accommodation from across the central belt and beyond which is great news and reveals the positive impact that an event such as this can have on the local economy.”
For more details visit www.dunoonpresents.co.uk/event/taste-dunoon-food-drink-festival/ or email info@pa23.org.uk.
