Blackthorn Big Day Out

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Fresh Ayr and fresh food are the order of the day on Saturday 15th April as the award-winning team at Blackthorn Salt welcome visitors to a unique experience for one day only!

About Blackthorn Big Day Out

Listed Under Food and Drink Events / Days Out Events / Easter Holiday Events / Family and Kids Events / Music Events / Shopping Events / Talks and Lectures Events / Tour Events

A fun day awaits for families and foodies at Blackthorn when the Marshall family, owners of the UK’s only salt tower host a plethora of producers of local, artisanal culinary delights celebrating flavour, tastings, and an insight into some of Scotland’s finest independent brands.

Whet your appetite on the west coast with demos, tastings and treats galore with savoury offerings from Galloway Pasta, The Koji Kitchen Miso and Narture Bread making. Butter-making and bakes will also be featuring, fresh from Mossgiel farm, tasty chutneys from The Glasgow Pickle Company and spicy sauces from Edinburgh’s Trodden Black as well as sumptuous natural soaps from Flora Brae.

There’s a BBQ and fire pit and on the sweet tip, sample delights from Arran Dairies ice cream and Bella Chocolate. Overtone craft beer will be able to provide refreshment, supported by Bullish coffee and the gourmet food truck Papamacs.

And if you’ve ever wanted to ask an expert panel of foodies a question, the line-up features an impressive array from professional chefs to artisan makers, a nutritionist, and distiller also with tastings, featuring Blackthorn’s Gregorie Marshall, Leslie Gracie, the Master Distiller at Hendrick’s Gin, Sonnda Catto Scotland’s leading nutritionist and chef; finally, Steven Lamb, author, chef, fermenter, curer at River Cottage will be hosting the discussions.

Visitors to Blackthorn will learn about the unique, natural, sustainable methods undertaken at the world's only working thorn tower and pan house. Enjoy a true to life historical demo with traditional salters, making salt the old way. And find out why local and independent brands should be your go-to choice when it comes to shopping sustainably in Scotland.

Blackthorn Master Salter Gregorie has lived and breathed salt since day 1 as his family has been involved in all things salt for 5 generations. The award-winning Blackthorn Salt is made using 100% West Coast sea water and nothing else. There are no illusions: no adding, no seeding, no bleaching, just pure Scottish sea salt.

The event is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team, Gregorie and Whirly Marshall and is a collaborative, community-based event which sees any profits donated to The Trussell Trust Food Banks.

Gregorie Marshall said: “We can’t wait to throw open the gates at Blackthorn – it isn’t often we get the chance and this time we wanted to broaden the experience and make it all-encompassing, with wee pockets of fun, flavour, and interest for everyone.”

Whirly Marshall said: “Whatever your tastebuds prefer: hot or cold, sweet, salty, or savoury, come rain or shine we hope to welcome many people to enjoy some of Scotland’s finest tastes in this wonderful location and business we’re very proud of here in Ayrshire.”

There’s music too from Ayrshire Youth Fiddle Orchestra and a young piper.

The event could be described as salt of the earth, but it’s really the salt of the sea.

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