Bath's food and drink stars receive vote of confidence

Bath's finest flavours made a splash in Westminster as the city's top food and drink artisans whetted the appetite of Parliament, as Lewis Clarke reports

- Lewis Clarke reports

From heritage cheeses and street food samosas to 30-year-old amber ale and Portuguese tarts, 'A Taste of Bath' served up a banquet of local pride and culinary prowess - and left MPs hungry for more.

The event was hosted by Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, who welcomed some of the city's top food and drink producers for the special event.

The event aimed to highlight Bath's gastronomic talent and encourage more support for independent businesses.

It provided parliamentarians and guests the opportunity to sample a wide variety of locally made treats, ranging from award-winning ale to traditional honey cakes.

Among the producers showcasing their products were Bath Ales, offering their famed "Gem" amber ale, and Chaiwalla, serving their acclaimed street food.

Landrace Bakery brought baked goods that have received recognition in the Michelin Guide, while Sally Lunn's ensured that their famous buns were featured.

Other local highlights included cheeses from Bath Soft Cheese Company, spirits from Bath Gin Distillery, bottled water from Bath Water, and sweet Portuguese tarts from Nata & Co.

Each vendor contributes to the rich culinary culture of Bath.

The event also featured Iryna Malenko, a Bath-based entrepreneur originally from Ukraine, who presented traditional Ukrainian honey cakes through her business, MAD for Cakes. This was a nod to the city's diverse community and ongoing solidarity with Ukraine.

Following the tastings, Mrs Hobhouse led the producers on a tour of the parliamentary estate, offering insights into the inner workings of Westminster.

Visitors praised the event as "the best parliamentary event they'd attended," highlighting the strong impression made by Bath's producers.

Mrs Hobhouse said: "I want to thank our wonderful Bath businesses for making the journey to Parliament. It is a real privilege to share their incredible work with colleagues."