Events
Scroll down for a full list of participating Local Food Weekend Outlets
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Local Food Weekends give diners the opportunity to sample delicious local food at participating independent food outlets. By buying locally sourced food and drink diners are supporting local growers and smaller scale food and drink producers and boosting Middlesbrough’s economy.
Why buy local?
- keeps more money in the local area
- is better for the environment
- supports local businesses and employment
- local food usually has more nutrients, so it’s better for you too!
The following outlets are taking part in the next Local Food Weekend between the 1st – 3rd September. To book a table, click on the logo and book through their system.
Remember, you don’t have to wait for a Local Food Weekend to eat local food. Look out for this sticker in the window of restaurants, cafes etc. and always ‘ask for local food and drink’.
To view earlier Local Food Weekends click either of the buttons below
The following outlets are taking part in the next Local Food Weekend between the 1st – 3rd September. To book a table, click on the logo and book through their system.
Woodlands Coffee House
Remember, you don’t have to wait for a Local Food Weekend to eat local food. Look out for this sticker in the window of restaurants, cafes etc. and always ‘ask for local food and drink’.
Local Food Weekends give diners the opportunity to sample delicious local food at participating independent food outlets. By buying locally sourced food and drink diners are supporting local growers and smaller scale food and drink producers and boosting Middlesbrough’s economy.
Why buy local?
- keeps more money in the local area
- is better for the environment
- supports local businesses and employment
- local food usually has more nutrients, so it’s better for you too!
The following outlets are taking part in the next Local Food Weekend between the 2nd – 4th June. To book a table, click on the logo and book through their system.
Dresser's Tea Room
Local Food Weekends give diners the opportunity to sample delicious local food at participating independent food outlets. By buying locally sourced food and drink diners are supporting local growers and smaller scale food and drink producers and boosting Middlesbrough’s economy.
Why buy local?
- keeps more money in the local area
- is better for the environment
- supports local businesses and employment
- local food usually has more nutrients, so it’s better for you too!
The following outlets are taking part in the next Local Food Weekend between the 3rd – 5th March. To book a table, click on the logo and book through their system.
Growing Middlesbrough is excited to announce dates for four of the popular Local Food Weekends in 2017. These are:
3rd – 5th March
2nd – 4th June
1st – 3rd September
1st – 3rd December
So why not sample some of the delicious food the area has to offer while supporting independent local growers, producers and businesses by choosing to dine at one of the participating food outlets across the town on these weekends?
If you want to eat local food outside these dates, then look out for the Growing Middlesbrough logo on shop windows for outlets that are a part of Growing Middlesbrough and serve local food, and then ‘ask for local’ when ordering.
Cafes, restaurants and other food outlets that are interested in being a part of Growing Middlesbrough’s Local Food Weekends please click this button below.
Trip to Warrens and Emerald Biogas Anaerobic Digestion facility
On Wednesday 2nd November, Warrens’ director Anthony Warren kindly gave representatives from Teesside University, Middlesbrough College, Fujifilm and Middlesbrough Environment City an extremely informative and inspiring tour around their state of the art anaerobic digestion facility in Newton Aycliffe.
He gave an overview of the process and service they provide, from the collection of food waste, through the removal and recycling of packaging, the anaerobic digestion process, the collection and distribution of gas and electricity to the national grid and then distribution and benefits of the land fertilizer for local farmers.
It was very interesting to hear the cost savings businesses of all sizes can make, the environmental benefits this service can provide, and exciting to hear Teesside University, Middlesbrough College and Fujifilm are investigating the possibility of starting the month trial to see if it would work in their workplaces.
Local Food Weekends give diners the opportunity to sample delicious local food at participating independent food outlets. By buying locally sourced food and drink diners are supporting local growers and smaller scale food and drink producers and boosting Middlesbrough’s economy.
Why buy local?
- keeps more money in the local area
- is better for the environment
- supports local businesses and employment
- local food usually has more nutrients, so it’s better for you too!
Local Food Weekend #2 Article
The second Local Food Weekend took place between 9-11 September. The following outlets participated:
Cafes, restaurants and other food outlets that are interested in being a part of Growing Middlesbrough’s Local Food Weekends or to be included on the Local Food database, please ensure you satisfy the criteria first, then email us here.
Local Food Weekends give diners the opportunity to sample delicious local food at participating independent food outlets. By buying locally sourced food and drink diners are supporting local growers and smaller scale food and drink producers and boosting Middlesbrough’s economy.
Why buy local?
- keeps more money in the local area
- is better for the environment
- supports local businesses and employment
- local food usually has more nutrients, so it’s better for you too!
Local Food Weekend article
The first Local Food Weekend took place between 29/31 July. The following outlets participated
We are gathering information on what people think about local food to present a business case to restaurants and food outlets, to encourage them to source and supply local food. Please click the button and complete our very short anonymous survey.
Sustainable Procurement Policies Workshop
Monday 25th April 2016, The Curve, Teesside University, Middlesbrough
Jamie Thomas, Durham County Council’s Corporate Procurement Officer delivered a extremely engaging and informative workshop on how to create and implement a sustainable food procurement policy.
Durham County Council, recently awarded the Social Value Leadership award for an organisation, shared best practice on their sustainable procurement policies which allow the council to award contracts and procure local food within European Procurement law to improve the financial, social and environmental impacts of their local area.
You can view the presentation by using the button below.
Sustainable local food procurement policy
Sustainable local food procurement policy
On Thursday 11th February 2016 Growing Middlesbrough ran another successful workshop on buying local food, with a focus on sustainable food procurement policy. This was to enable businesses to make decisions to improve the environmental, social and financial impacts of their operations (‘Triple Bottom Line’).
Delegates from Teesside University, Middlesbrough Council, local food businesses and interested parties from the local area, Sunderland and Salford listened to inspirational speakers (see below for schedule and to download presentations), took the opportunity to network and make contacts and enjoyed great local food.
Durham County Council’s sustainable procurement policy document and sustainable buying standards are available via the button below.
To download/view the presentations of the speakers, use the buttons below:
Local food for local business event –Tuesday 6th October 2015
We ran a very successful event where catering managers and buyers from Middlesbrough College, Teesside University, local suppliers and producers and local wholesalers got together, heard from inspirational speakers and best practice, were able to network trouble shoot supply chains, promote their business and enjoy great local food and drink.
Dawn Shotton – Dietwise.co.uk
I found the networking at the end of the morning very useful and a powerful tool for meeting other businesses with links and similar interests to my own.
I feel meeting people face to face is really important in business and this was such a great opportunity for me to build relevant contacts and win confidence of potential partners. It was a great way to break the ice yesterday. As a result I have organised a couple of meetings – with others attending.
More feedback from the event can be found HERE
Find out who spoke at the event. To download the presentations click the corresponding buttons:
This event will act as the catalyst to launch some very exciting work by the partners, local businesses and producers to embed purchasing local food and to create a strong ‘made in Middlesbrough’ brand.
Local food for local business
Middlesbrough Environment City are working with Middlesbrough Council, Middlesbrough College and Teesside University to try and increase the amount of local food that is purchased by local businesses.
The aim is to improve Middlesbrough’s economy and town identity, reducing food miles and promote healthier food. This forms part of a wider strategic Food Action Plan that was adopted by Middlesbrough Council in September to promote sustainable and healthy food in the town. Find out more about the Middlesbrough’s Food Action Plan.
The benefits of buying local..
To the local economy
- every £1 spent locally is worth 400% more than if spent out of area (NEF)
- improves local employment
To businesses
- fulfils CSR agenda
- access to local supply chain
- creates collaboration opportunities
- helps local businesses flourish
- provides a USP
To the environment
- reduces carbon miles
Click here for some points to consider if you are buying local food