1 June 2017

YOU’VE got to hand it to newly arrived Randall & Aubin, now open, – they certainly keep a high profile. Co-founder/chef Ed Baines has been spearheading the restaurant’s arrival in Manchester and he’s also one of the star names appearing at another newcomer, Eat and Drink Festival, a spin-off from the Ideal Home Show, both of which run concurrently at EventCity from Thursday, June 8 to Sunday, June 11.

Ed is best known for his role as a judge on ITV's hugely successful ‘Britain’s Best Dish’ with six series between 2007 and 2011, reaching viewing figures in excess of three million. He also hosted three of his own series including ‘Lunch with Ed Baines’ and ITV’s ‘Ed Baines Entertains’ and has penned two cookbooks. So the EDF ‘Foodie Lab’ stage should hold no fears for him. 

Baines (pictured above) joins fellow culinary luminaries such as our own Aiden Byrne (Manchester House), Aldo Zilli (San Carlo Group), Andrew Green (The Lowry Hotel) and Masterchef winner/soon to be First Street restaurateur Simon Wood.

‘Drinks Station’ contributions from come from the likes of Science and Industry, The Fitzgerald, Revolucion de Cuba, First Chop Brewing Arm, Atlas Bar and Three Rivers Gin. Wine guru Olly Smith will also be on hand in a debut event offering a hub of food stalls, workshops, demos and artisan producers, including Cheshire patisserie Lulu Macaron – some 65 exhibitors in total.

Tickets cost £12.50 and are available here. Buy a ticket for this event an dit gets you into the Ideal Home Show next door.