The tastiest of Newport’s events is coming to the city today: the Tiny Rebel Newport Food and Drink Festival 2016. ESTEL FARELL-ROIG reports.

THIS year’s festival’s main activities will be from 9am-5pm and will centre on the High Street and Newport Market, including its gallery level, and surrounding areas.

Among others, there will be more than 80 stalls ready to fill your fridge with delights ranging from meats, cheeses and spices to preserves, breads, cakes and oils.

One of the stalls will be Batch Farm Cheesemakers, which will be selling a 27kg cheddar cloth-bound cheese.

Alongside the traditional cheddar, they make cheddar cheese with added flavourings such as chilli, garlic and a variety of herbs.

South Wales Argus: The Coity Bach farm shop stall at the Newport Food Festival (11103571)

Another example of a stall is Grandma Bees, selling skincare products such as nourishing body oils and intense skin balms produced in the hills of Monmouthshire.

Science Cream will be selling Wales’ first liquid nitrogen ice cream, which is made fresh to order using natural ingredients.

The ice cream is made right in front of you, frozen with liquid nitrogen in seconds – the smoothness and creaminess of the texture is said to be unlike any other ice cream around.

For those feeling hungry, there will be plenty of refuelling choices, including Greek, Welsh, pizza, paella and seafood.

Pretentious Burger Kitchen, which closed its restaurant in Newport’s High Street earlier this month, will be at the festival.

Other local independent businesses that will be taking part include The Ridgeway Bar and Kitchen, Mojo The Food Bar and Parc Pantry.

To quench your thirst, the festival’s main sponsor, Tiny Rebel, will be selling all sorts of drinks; beer, ale, wine, cider, spirits or something soft.

Apart from the stalls, there will be free chef demonstrations running throughout the day where you can learn top tips from experts.

They will include festival patron Hywel Jones, of Lucknam Park; Masterchef’s Larkin Cen; Simon Crockford of the Celtic Manor; and Steve White, of The Ruperra Arms.

Upstairs in the Newport Market at 10am, there’ll be the final of the Teenchef competition, with top chefs Hywel and Larkin judging the creations of young cooks.

Also upstairs in the Newport Market, but at 4pm, there’ll be a Battle of the Burger where mEAT Bar and Grill will take on the Pretentious Burger Kitchen.

Cllr Debbie Wilcox, leader of Newport City Council, said: “Newport Food Festival has proved to be a great day out and I for one am looking forward to seeing Newport Market and High Street buzzing, as well as the many events and activities on the day.

“About 15,000 people filled the city centre last year, and with even more on offer this year, I hope to see our best crowds ever on October 1.

“I would like to thank all our sponsors and supporters who have made this year’s impressive line-up possible.

“It’s amazing to see so many willing to say ‘we’re #backingnewport’.”

This year’s festival will also boast a range of fringe events including a treasure hunt, children’s competitions at Friars Walk, plus special offers from traders across Newport City Centre.

Music will fill the streets, with bands and groups playing in the High Street, Westgate Square and outside Newport Market between 11am-4pm.

These will include Gwent Youth Brass Ensemble, Cajun Street Band and a Samba group.

Newport Community Choir will also be performing throughout the day in the gallery area of Newport Market, where the chef demonstrations are taking place.

Newport’s Rock Choir will be singing on the High Street and in the market.

As well as music, there will be plenty of family friendly entertainment.

Between 10am-4pm, there’ll be free face painting along to the café area in Newport Market.

Between 11am-4pm, Simon Sparkles will be entertaining the crowds with his magic balloon-making skills.

This Saturday’s festival promises to be the biggest and best yet.

A company born and bred in Newport, Tiny Rebel, is helping the festival reach new heights, and has made a commitment to sponsor the event for the next three years.

Bradley Cummings, from Tiny Rebel, said: “We had a fantastic experience of the festival last year.

“Urban Tap House had yet to officially open but we ran a roaring trade from our pop-up bar and a huge amount of interest from the public in our beer and new venue.

“We’re a proud Newport business so coming on board as headline sponsor of the festival is a great honour.

“We look forward to helping develop the newly emphasised drink aspect of the celebration and raising awareness of the festival throughout south Wales and beyond.”

Tiny Rebel, is hosting a calendar of events this week, including flight night, live music and a new bottle launch.

For more information about all the festival activities, events and exhibitors visit newportfoodfestival.co.uk There’s more festival information on Facebook at facebook.com/newportfoodfestival and Twitter @NewportFoodFest

Newport Festival line-up

  • 44 High Street
  • 2pm: Nia Thomas – cake decorating skills demonstration & talk.
  • Upstairs in Newport Market
  • 10am: Teenchef final.
  • 11am: Hywel Jones – Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa.
  • Noon: Larkin Cen – Celtic Manor Resort.
  • 1pm: Dion Tidmarsh & Vivenne Jade Read – The Golden Lion, Magor.
  • 2pm: Chris Williams – Wagamama.
  • 3pm: Steve White – The Ruperra Arms.
  • 4pm: Battle of the Burger – mEAT Bar & Grill v Pretentious Burger Kitchen.
  • Pobl Offices (top of High Street)
  • 10.30am: Simon Crockford – Celtic Manor Resort.
  • 11.30am: James Sommerin – Restaurant James Sommerin.
  • 12.30pm: Ben Periam – Mojo the Foodbar.
  • 1.30pm: Lyndon Bradford – The Ridgeway Bar & Kitchen.
  • 2.30pm: Paul Turley – Tiny Rebel Brewing Co.
  • 3.30pm: Anil Karhadkar – Curry on the Curve.