North Hop, the roving artisan food and drink festival, is setting up its stall for the first time in Aviemore.
Staged at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort on Saturday 25th February, North Hop Aviemore will have an après-ski theme to reflect its location in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.
The Osprey Arena will be transformed into a quirky combination of beer hall meets cocktail lounge meets barn dance, complete with food and live music.
The event will run over two separate, five hour sessions; one in the afternoon and one in the evening.
North Hop: new food and drink
Event organiser Michelle Russell said: ‘North Hop is for anyone who is passionate about discovering new food and drink, as well as new music. We’re excited that it’s all happening in a location like Aviemore. It means people will get to appreciate the surroundings as much as what’s happening indoors.
‘Our exhibitors come from all over Scotland but there’s a real buzz around the Highlands at the moment in terms of exciting new food and drink products.
‘The nearby Tomatin Distillery are bringing a pop-up whisky cocktail barrel bar to the party, hosted by Inverness bar specialists Bars R Us. Caorunn Gin, based just along the road from Aviemore in Cromdale, will also be in attendance.
‘I’m delighted to have local breweries such as Cairngorm Brewery, Loch Ness Brewery and Nairn-based Wooha Brewing Co. There is also a new venture called Two Thirsty Men, which brews small batch beer in nearby Grantown-on-Spey.
‘The Festival Gin from Dunnet Bay Distillers is shaping up to be something special. It has been created by distilling Dunnet Bay’s Rock Rose Gin with Scottish cream making it very creamy, silky, and light in flavour. All presented in an old-fashioned milk bottle!’
Gin truck
Perhaps the quirkiest feature of the festival will come courtesy of Walter Micklethwait, winner of Channel 4’s 2015 Shed of the Year competition.
Mr Micklethwait will be launching his locally distilled First Edition Inshriach Speyside Dry Gin at the festival.
Festival go-ers will be invited to sample it in perfect serves and cocktails from a rustic gin truck fashioned from a vintage horse box.
The festival will have its own bespoke range of craft beer, gin and cider created for festival go-ers. These limited edition collaboration products include a new Festival Brew from Fife-based St Andrews Brewing Co and a Festival Cider from Dunbar’s own Thistly Cross Cider.
Music is always a key ingredient in the North Hop recipe. On the bill at North Hop Aviemore is a line-up of up-and-coming Scottish talent. Look out for Dr. Wook & The Voltaic Disorder, Hollie Atkinson, Josephine Sillars, Carma, Footerin’ Aboot, Nicky Aiken and Moteh and Friends.
Local hero, Spud the Piper, who has played for Madonna, Ashley Judd, Jamie Lee Curtis and a host of other celebrities, will also be on hand to pipe festival go-ers into North Hop.
North Hop info
North Hop Aviemore is on Saturday 25 February 2017. The afternoon session runs noon to 5pm while the evening session runs 7pm till 12am.
Tickets: £17.50 + booking fee per session. Ticket price includes festival access on the specified days/times, a North Hop glass, festival programme, and one Festival Brew/Festival Cider token.
All bars and stands at the festival will be worked on a cash (some may have card facilities) basis and no token system will be in place. Strictly over 18’s only.
Late nights buses back to Inverness and accommodation deals in Aviemore are available.