Berwick-upon-Tweed and the surrounding district has a rich heritage of producing fine food and drink stretching back many centuries and Our Food and Drink Story was celebrated in two major events in the Berwick 900 programme.
The 3rd annual Mouth of the Tweed Festival on Berwick Quayside in July celebrated the food and drink produced within a radius of 16 miles (25 km) of the town. The event was opened with a selection of songs with a fishing or nautical flavour, performed by the Prior Park First School Choir, and as a special feature for the Berwick 900 programme the historic herring drifter “Reaper”, from the Scottish Fisheries Museum collection at Anstruther in Fife, was moored at the Quayside during the Festival.
The 8th Berwick Food and Beer Festival was staged in the splendid setting of the 18th century Barracks Square and the adjacent Parade area. Visitors were able to taste and buy some of the best food, beers and ciders produced in the North East of England and South of Scotland and enjoy a variety of street food.
There was also a special display illustrating Berwick’s food heritage through the ages and a programme of cookery demonstrations, including a 1915 soldiers’ field kitchen marking the centenary of the First World War. Entertainment was provided by talented local musicians throughout the weekend.
