I’m no stranger to the Buxton Fair, and generally pop down to the Saturday opening every month, rather than the Farmers’ Market, which is held on Thursdays.
The Food Fair takes place in the appropriately-named Octagon Hall, which can be found at the end of Buxton Pavilion complex and runs from 10am to 4pm. Stall-wise, it can be patchy and it’s much smaller than the Bakewell Farmer’s Market. Nevertheless it does has some excellent regulars such as the Derbyshire Smokery, selling smoked fish and meats, Lambrellis pasta sauces, and Hope Valley ice-cream, as well as a selection of stalls offering homemade pies, cheese and ales. My particular favourite is F Jackson & Son, from Melbourne nr Derby, which sells fantastic seasonal veg of the very best quality. If I can, I always try to buy most of my weekly vegetables here as I know that they will be fresh and tasty. Today, my bag included potatoes, carrots, leeks, a savoy cabbage, a punnet of jerusalem artichokes and purple kale (total £5.20).
The next Buxton Food Fair will be held 14 Feb 2009. Admission is free and parking can be found next door to the Octagon.
