Chef Adam Handling MBE’s First AHC Food Festival Draws 2,000 Visitors to The Tartan Fox

Chef Adam Handling MBE’s first-ever AHC Food Festival has been hailed a huge success, attracting around 2,000 visitors over the weekend of October 4th and 5th at The Tartan Fox, his luxury countryside pub near Newquay.

“We Smashed It!”

Created to celebrate community and the exceptional talent within the Adam Handling Collection (AHC), the two-day event featured a packed schedule of food, drink, and live entertainment. Adam said: “We smashed it! We’re going to do it again next year and make it even bigger and better. Even Storm Amy couldn’t dampen the weekend! It was an incredible day. It was great to bring our team from across the Collection together and to showcase what we do best from around the UK to Cornish locals, friends and regulars from across the Collection and everyone else who came down to see us.”

The festival united all of Adam’s restaurants, pubs, bars, and his award-winning Chocolate Shop for the first time, offering visitors over 2,000 portions of food and hand-painted chocolates, alongside Adam’s own label English sparkling wine and cocktails from Eve Bar.

Packed Barn and Firepit Feasts

Crowds filled the barn for live chef demonstrations and cocktail and wine masterclasses hosted by the Collection’s team. The energy continued into the evenings with sold-out firepit banquets, where guests shared feasts cooked over open flames by Adam and his team.

Live performances from Josh Curnow and other Cornish bands brought extra energy to the weekend, giving the festival a strong sense of community, craftsmanship and celebration.

More to Come at The Tartan Fox

Following the success of the AHC Food Festival, several upcoming events are planned at The Tartan Fox. The next monthly Feast series takes place on October 16th, offering a fresh new menu each month.

On October 18th, local artist Gemma Lessinger will lead a Sunset and Supper seascape painting workshop, followed by dinner. Hayley Blooms will host a wreath-making class with snacks and fizz on November 29th, and the Tartan Fox Christmas Market will be held on December 14th, featuring local food and drink producers, festive dishes from the kitchen, and seasonal drinks from the bar team.

About Adam Handling MBE

Adam is a Michelin-starred chef and owner of the Adam Handling Collection, which includes Frog by Adam Handling, Eve Bar, Adam Handling Chocolate Shop, The Loch & the Tyne, The Tartan Fox, and Ugly Butterfly.

He is known for his commitment to British food, sustainability, and fighting food waste, using top-quality, seasonal ingredients sourced from British suppliers.

Adam was named Champion of Champions on the BBC’s Great British Menu 2023, and has received multiple awards, including Scottish Chef of the Year, British Culinary Federation’s Chef of the Year, and Restaurateur of the Year in the British GQ Food and Drink Awards 2020. His flagship restaurant, Frog by Adam Handling, earned its first Michelin star in 2022.

Through his Collection, Adam supports charities such as The Felix Project and Quintessentially Foundation, sharing a mission to reduce food waste. He also serves as an Ambassador for the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign, and was chosen to create one of five official recipes for HRH King Charles III’s Coronation, his Strawberry and Ginger Trifle enjoyed at celebrations across the UK.

Adam’s ‘Majestic Chicken Pie’ was voted the winning dish in The One Show’s Coronation Dish competition, announced live by Dame Mary Berry.

Alongside his TV appearances on Saturday Kitchen Live, Great British Menu, and MasterChef, Adam has published four books, including his boxset trilogy Frog by Adam Handling, Why Waste?, and Perfect, Three Cherries.

The success of the AHC Food Festival signals what could become a new annual tradition for The Tartan Fox, blending food, community and creativity in true Cornish style.