The Woking Food and Drink Festival is organised by Woking Borough Council as part of its annual Celebrate Woking programme of events.
Woking Borough Council is committed to the economic development of the Borough as a place to live, do business and visit. The festival’s venue, the refurbished Jubilee Square and surrounding pedestrian areas, is the starting point of extensive and on-going town centre revitalisation works which are planned over the coming years.
Woking Borough Council works in partnership with a range of partners to deliver the free, three-day festival.
Festival Team
Festival Manager - Riette Thomas
Email: [email protected]
Marketing - Kate Mair
Marketing Communications Officer at Woking Borough Council, Kate is an award-winning and creative communications professional with B2B and B2C experience in both the public and private sectors. She has successfully led the communications and demo stage content, as well as taking an active role in sourcing local stallholders for the event, since the festival began in 2013.
A farmer’s daughter and an ardent supporter (and consumer!) of good quality nosh and drink, Kate devotes a large percentage of her time watching foodie TV programmes, foraging for new eateries and watering holes, trialling and adapting recipes, and walking her beloved dog.
Email: [email protected]
Demonstration Theatre - Kim Somauroo
Bringing his wealth of culinary expertise to the theatre is Kim Somauroo, an experienced Home Economist who trained at the Woking based Tante Marie Culinary Academy.
Kim is responsible for the complete delivery and smooth running of the theatre. He manages the demonstration stages at some of the country’s most prominent food events, including:
- Woking Food and Drink Festival (2013-2017)
- St Ives Food and Drink Festival (2016-2017)
- Taste of London (2011-2017)
- Taste of Winter (2014-2016)
- Taste of Christmas (2011-2013)
- Jamie Oliver's Big Feastival (2012-2017)
On top of his busy festival and private chef schedule, Kim also volunteers as the head chef and organiser of Jamie Oliver's fundraiser supper clubs for the Fifteen Apprentice Programme.
Website: www.kimsomauroo.com
Demonstration Theatre support - Tante Marie Culinary Academy
Established in 1954, the Tante Marie Culinary Academy is the oldest UK independent cookery academy, which is based in Woking. Over the last 60 years the Academy has developed an internationally acclaimed reputation for excellence, with graduates running successful businesses around the world.
Tante Marie has sponsored the Theatre since the first festival in 2013.
Town Centre Management - Woking Shopping
The festival is delivered in partnership with Woking Shopping, which manages the town's centrally located shopping centres and public realm. It is responsible for ensuring that the Festival dove-tails with the shopping centres' activities and provides operational guidance and support.
