BREAD has always been a staple during the British wintertime and never gone out of style. Celebrations of this simple and hearty 1913 meal, consisting of a loaf of bread, jam and sweet butter, continue to take place in houses and restaurants from coast to coast, even now forty-five years on.
From “Sheffield brave” who won her battle in the snow to “Sheffield lovely” who pushed her pig out of the mud, British homesickness for bread has certainly spread over the years. The following are just a few of the numerous bread competitions and festivals going on at the moment:
fountain festival in heyday: The event starts in the morning at 6am and last for four hours. The action is spread over half a mile and bands and stalls are set up to sell loafers, muffins and scones. The contest is won by whoever melts the most slices of bread!
Clarence Street Fair: I was told about this fair from a friend who is a valuation consultant and recently visited the fair. The festival is annually held on Caesar’s Roman walk way in the centre of the City. It started off as a seller’s market and has now evolved into a week long party. Ambience brought to the event by live bands and dancing is a must!
Covent Garden Market: Another major food festival held yearly for 50 days during November at New Covent Garden. Market days are very easily accessible as it is merely a 4 minute walk from town. The key features of the market are the Horse Stalls, the Sheep Stalls and the Food Stalls. Besides the stalls, there is a market place and a river tour that is held every day.
Hoppers valley market: It is held daily on Greenwich Street the food stalls are open until 12.30pm and after that the market opens again. It is a great place to buy Edinburgh type food and the venue is within walking distance from the Town and the Castle. The souvenir stalls and bakeries are the obvious highlights.
Mann’s Chinese Garden: Located on Calton Hill near the Castle, the garden was commissioned by Lord Ridley and is a luxury Chinese dining and entertainment venue. There is a catch – you have to be there at noon to get the chance of seeing the Emperor and his Empress.
Avers Court: This estate is family owned and boasts magnificent gardens, a marina as well as luxury apartments. The apartments are separate from the gardens and have their own reception area, but they are so elaborate that they are worth viewing as well as the magnificent views of the gardens, not to mention the restaurants and premium hotels on the hill.
National Monument: This magnificent monument is in the form of a cast iron columnar structure erected on an acre of land. There are several activities organised around the monument all year round. Some of them are free but they are well worth getting involved in.
These are only some of Edinburgh’s many superb museums and art galleries. Most are free and you will find that they are tastefully decorated and are the ideal way of keeping the children entertained.