Dining in a medieval household was not only a ritual, but also a pleasure, involving elaborate preparation by an army of servants. It was customary to dine in the great hall which would have been the centre of daily life in the castle or manor house. Take a seat within the 'Buxom Wench' Tavern and feel like you are in the 'Herstmonceux' great hall. You may even find you are entertained by a fool or two!

England's Medieval Festival is proud to offer you a wide variety of on-site catering choices, from medieval themed food and drink to the more traditional.

The Buxom Wench Tavern

located in front of the castle in the large white marquee, see the festival map

If it's a traditional hog roast, warm stew, soup, ploughman's or an afternoon tea then you are definitely in the right place.

For more information on the food and drink that will be offered at this years Festival, please visit the whats on section of this web site.

Royal Food Courts

Located behind the Jesters Inn at the Royal Arena and also at the west side of the castle.

With a wide selection of food choices available you will not go hungry! Below is an example of various catering choices available on site;

Individual Premium Butchers Sausages

Thai Food

Organic Burgers & Sausages and Salads

Cornish Pasty's

Curry

Fish and Chips

Baguettes and Jacket Potatoes

Specialised Tea & Coffee

Ice Cream

Festival Drink

We have two fully licensed Bars at the festival serving a full range of wines, real ales, beers and spirits.

They are located in the Jesters Inn which is on the display line of the Royal Arena and in the Buxham Wench Tavern in front of the castle.

For more information on the food and drink that will be offered at this years Festival, please visit the whats on section of this web site.

Buxom Wench Marquee Catering

Harleys

We source only the freshest local ingredients to ensure the highest possible quality.  Our chefs will prepare and cook all the food on site and in front of you in the medieval style kitchen.

Our meat is sourced from a local farm in Vines Cross where the animals are happy as they spend their lives roaming free in the meadows.  The cows are Aberdeen Angus , Sussex of Hereford and are grazed on grass for an amasing flavour.  The meat is then hung for 21 days.

The pigs are Large White crossed with quarter Gloucester for the perfect flavour.  They live in the woods eating acorns and are fed barley and nuts.

The apples are grown in Herstmonceux, which means they have not been stored in cold rooms for months but have come straight from the tree with no carbon footprint.

The eggs are from free-range chickens that live just up the road.

The knives and forks are made from birch wood, the plates from reed and the cups out of paper making them biodegradable.

There are three different types of cheese from our local award winning cheese makers in Stonegate, which is less than 10 miles away.  They only work with vegetarian rennet, so their cheeses are suitable for all.

-         Olde Sussex is a naturally rinded cheese, which is made using the traditional cheddar recipe.  Its open texture however, differentiates this cheese from cheddar, making it an excellent alternative.  Olde Sussex has a deep, rich, creamy, yet rather tangy flavour.

-         Lord of the Hundreds is a unique unpressed ewe’s milk cheese.  Its flavour hints a caramelised hazelnuts and the meadows in which the sheep graze.  This wonderfully natural, sweet and savoury balance means our homemade chutney compliments this cheese perfectly.

-         Goodwood Smoked is a rindless Olde Sussex , which has been smoked over aok chippings for 2-4 days.  This process gives it its rich oak smoked flavour, which must not be compared in flavour to the enhanced smoked cheeses.