Celebrating Surrey’s talented artisans at the Surrey Hills Artisan Festival
31st May 2022
The second annual Surrey Hills Artisan Festival, held on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd May 2022 at Denbies Wine Estate was a great success, seeing around 3,000 people visiting to enjoy the vibrant weekend event in a beautiful setting near Dorking.
Organised by Community Interest Company, Surrey Hills Enterprises, in partnership with Denbies Wine Estate and Surrey Artists Open Studios (SAOS), the festival was a celebration of the talented artisans of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), with more than 70 local artisans in attendance. Showcasing the region’s very best art, crafts, food and drink, the festival featured stalls from artisans and a large artists’ marquee from SAOS members, as well as live music and entertainment in a central arena, including Rock Choir performances, samba rhythms from Bloco do Sul, jazz from Philip Hopkins Jazz Duo, steel drums from Melodic Pan Man and morris dancing from the Rampant Roosters. Lots of fun for all ages!
Surrounded by hay bales, the central area of the Bacchus Field was the ideal place for visitors to relax in the sunshine, whilst listening to the excellent entertainment, soaking up the rays and the relaxed atmosphere of the festival, and enjoying the huge array of local food and drink on offer. With Thai curries, African cuisine, wood fired pizza, ice cream and sorbets, Surrey Hills wine, freshly ground coffee, botanical beers and much more, there was something for everyone!
New for 2022, the Surrey Hills Artisan Festival also featured a fantastic demo tent, which hosted talks, tastings and demonstrations throughout the weekend from a wide variety of artisans – from cooking to craft making to nature activities to mindfulness to leather craft to cocktail making to fascinating stories of success from local businesses, there was lots to engage and inspire attendees, all included within their entry ticket.
Under sunny skies, there was also lots to entertain younger visitors too, with Surrey Hills’ storytelling, giant garden games, arts and crafts tables, a cartoon mural and an art installation to get involved with, inspiring creativity in children of all ages. All generations were also inspired by the art being created live at the festival by local artists in various mediums, showing their techniques and talents.
With a wide variety of stalls showcasing products and produce from within the Surrey Hills, from local small businesses, there was much to browse and buy, with many visitors discovering new Surrey products that they hadn’t before tried and meeting the talented artisans behind the Surrey businesses.
With so much on offer and with such a stunning setting, with views of both the grape vines and nearby Box Hill, many visitors stayed for the day and made the very most of the spring sunshine at the Surrey Hills Artisan Festival. Stallholders, organisers and visitors alike are already looking forward to next year.
The next Surrey Hills Enterprises’ event, the Surrey Hills Wood Fair will take place at Cranleigh Show Ground on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September 2022. Be sure to add the date to your diary and book in advance for a discount on tickets.
For more information about the next Surrey Hills Enterprises’ event, the Surrey Hills Wood Fair, visit: www.surreyhills.org/events/surrey-hills-wood-fair-2022.