A new Victorian carnival and the first contemporary winter food festival of its kind are taking place in the grounds of Gosford House, East Lothian, this December.
Created by event designers Rogue Village, The Gosford House Winter Wonderland takes place from Friday 17 to Thursday 23 December 2021 (10am to 6pm) in the house’s stunning coastal parkland. It will feature a number of fun-filled vintage-inspired Christmas experiences befitting the historic backdrop, and will also host the first ever Feast food festival on 17 and 18 December.
Rogue Village Co-Director, Jennifer Maniam said: “We’re creating something that truly captures the magic of Christmas and the reason why East Lothian is fast becoming known as one of the best places to enjoy Scotland’s finest food and drink.”
With grant funding from East Lothian Council to help local food and drink producers recover from the impact of the pandemic, the new Feast festival will celebrate the area’s fast-growing reputation for some of Scotland’s finest produce in a unique and dynamic way.
Festival workshops and events will take place in Gosford House, including:
- a Christmas afternoon tea by the open fire handcrafted by artisan bakers Lewis & Clarke;
- a Whisky House Tour with Glenkinchie (the Lowland home of Johnnie Walker whisky), which will give guests the chance sample whiskies paired to specific rooms as they meander round the house.
- Cheese and Wine tasting with The Cheese Lady in the Marble Hall.
A large vintage sperry tent will be home to Feast’s Larder – a marketplace selling local produce, perfect for picking up Christmas gifts or treats for the festive period including local favourites Buck & Birch (spirits produced from ingredients found in the wild), Steampunk coffee, Edinburgh Kombucha and The Brand Family Farm Shop.
A tipi bar complete with open fire, sponsored by The Hive by Wemyss Malts, will take centre stage in the food village, flanked by some of East Lothian’s leading street food specialists serving up a winter warming menu, including The Wee Green’s smashed burgers, Wild at Heart’s deluxe cheese toasties and Herringbone’s mulled wine and festive cocktails.
Speaking about the new festival, Councillor John McMillan, East Lothian Council Spokesperson for Economic Development and Tourism added: “Gosford House will be a wonderful location for our first East Lothian Feast event, and the perfect opportunity for locals and visitors alike to enjoy some festive cheer and pick up those food and drink gifts East Lothian’s producers are known for.”
Gosford House Winter Wonderland will also feature a Victorian carousel and chair swings, Christmas land train trips around the grounds, carnival stalls, marketplace, donkeys and a Christmas tree postbox maze. Other festival events will include Christmas table styling by Style Your Spaces, wreath making from Feathergrass Florals and ballet classes from Art East, former Royal Ballet principal dancers.
Tickets are priced from £4.50 for a child and £6.50 for an adult (plus booking fee) per day. Entry is from 10am to 6pm each day (with entry slots every hour).
To book tickets, to view the programme or for more information visit www.roguevillage.com/gosford-house-winter-wonderland