Bake Off judge Cherish Finden is set to join a stellar line-up of culinary talent at this year’s Cheshire and North Wales Food Festival.
Best known as the formidable judge on The Great British Bake Off: The Professionals, Cherish is an award-winning pastry chef with more than 25 years’ experience. Over the course of her career she has won 28 awards and judging accolades, made countless television appearances, and built a reputation for precision, perfection and style.
Her remarkable achievements range from creating a cake replica of Windsor Castle for the Queen’s 90th birthday to leading Singapore to an eight-time gold medal victory at the Culinary Olympics. Festivalgoers can expect a live cooking demonstration that promises to be a true masterclass.
The world-class pastry artist will appear at the festival on Saturday 4 April at 3pm.
Announcing her appearance on Instagram, Cherish said: “I’m super excited to announce that I will be demonstrating at the Cheshire and North Wales Food Festival, Saturday 4 April at 3pm.
“It’s going to be an incredible day and I can’t wait to share my recipes with you all. Make sure you come and say hello.
“Watch the demo, it’s going to be fun, it’s going to be fantastic, and I will even be sharing some of my baking secrets with you.”
The festival takes place over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend at Chester Racecourse. It returns with a new identity, fresh format and renewed energy after being rescued by local hotelier Steven Hesketh and event director Katie Isaacson.
Formerly known as the Taste Cheshire Food and Drink Festival, the much-loved event is entering a new chapter after 25 years.
Steven, co-owner of Devafest, and Katie, owner of CoolBreeze Events, stepped in when they learned the festival was at risk of ending. Determined to preserve what has become a key date in the city’s calendar, the pair have reimagined the event while retaining its strong community roots.
CHANCE, the UK’s first non-alcoholic cider brand, will headline as festival sponsor.
Among the other headline acts confirmed for the weekend are MasterChef 2024 winner Brin Pirathapan and Great British Bake Off 2023 champion Matty Edgell.
Brin will appear on Friday 3 April, cooking recipes from his new cookbook, Elevate. Matty will take to the demonstration stage on Saturday 4 April.
The weekend will also feature an impressive line-up of established chefs and rising culinary stars.
The rebranded festival marks a significant moment for the region’s food scene. After a quarter of a century as Taste Cheshire, organisers felt it was time to evolve while still honouring the event’s heritage.
Trader opportunities are now open, with the new management team prioritising applications from existing and local businesses as part of their commitment to continuity and community support.
Consumer tickets are also on sale and, due to strong early interest, traders are being encouraged to secure their pitches as soon as possible.
For more information, visit www.cnwfoodanddrinkfestival.com.
