![\"Dragons\u2019](\"https:\/\/durhammagazine.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Briony-May-Williams.webp\" "\\"Briony")
<\/a>Briony May Williams<\/div>\nBrothers who secured investment from a Dragons\u2019 Den judge, the latest champion of The Great British Bake Off, a familiar face from the much-loved BBC daytime series Escape To The Country and pies inspired by Bishop Auckland are all set to appear at this year\u2019s Bishop Auckland Food Festival<\/a><\/strong>.<\/h2>\nThe popular event is now just two months away, taking place on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April.<\/p>\n
Lumberjaxe, Jasmine Mitchell and Briony May Williams will all be appearing at the event on Sunday 19 April, organised as ever by Durham County Council and free to attend.<\/p>\n
Lumberjaxe shot to prominence after their appearance and successful\u00a0investment on Dragons\u2019 Den, while Jasmine will be a very familiar face to \u2018Bake Off\u2019 viewers having won last year\u2019s series. Briony is perhaps best known for presenting Escape to the Country but she too appeared in \u2018Bake Off\u2019 nearly a decade ago.<\/p>\n
They join Phil Vickery, Shivi Ramoutar, Aaron Mountford-Myles who\u2019ve already been announced for Saturday 18 April, and host Chris Bavin who will appear across the full weekend of the festival.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ll join over 150 traders offering food from both near and far, for festivalgoers to choose from.<\/p>\n
Cllr Karen Allison, the council\u2019s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019re really looking forward to Bishop Auckland Food Festival and\u00a0<\/p>\n
thrilled to be announcing that Lumberjaxe, Jasmine and Briony will be part of the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know how important food and drink are to visitors to County Durham and how many jobs they sustain here, supporting our economy in the process. It\u2019s therefore fitting that we\u00a0<\/p>\n
can organise events such as Bishop Auckland Food Festival that recognise and celebrate all that food and drink contribute to our area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t wait for everyone to come along and enjoy an amazing selection of food with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n![\"Dragons\u2019](\"https:\/\/durhammagazine.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Lumberjaxe-819x1024.webp\")
Lumberjaxe\n<\/div>\nLumberjaxe <\/strong>is made up of\u00a0brothers Brendon and Jaydon Manders, who together came up with a seasoning and sauce brand, with the purpose of making preservative free products that are lower in\u00a0salt and sugar. The brothers, who share a love of outdoor cooking, appeared on BBC Dragons\u2019 Den in February 2025, successfully securing investment from global business leader Emma Grede. Their pitch was described as \u201cone of the most powerful moments in Dragons\u2019 Den history.\u201d<\/p>\nJasmine Mitchell<\/strong> brought a calm, methodical approach to the baking tent during her successful run in last year\u2019s \u2018Bake Off, earning five \u2018Star Baker\u2019 titles and multiple handshakes from Paul Hollywood. Not only did she showcase an unbeatable set of skills, flavours and designs, she also brought personal authenticity to the competition, openly sharing her journey with alopecia and choosing to bake without a wig, a powerful statement of confidence that drew a huge response from viewers.<\/p>\nBriony May Williams <\/strong>appeared on\u00a0series nine of \u2018Bake Off in 2018, finishing fourth. She\u00a0now presents BBC One\u2019s property series, Escape To The Country, as well as being one of the presenters of BBC One\u2019s Morning Live. Her other TV credits include Pointless Celebrities, House Of Games and The Weakest Link. Briony\u2019s first cookbook, The Retro Recipe Society, was published earlier this year.<\/p>\nAhead of the festival, meanwhile, people are being given the chance to take part in a competition to come up with a recipe for a pie that represents Bishop Auckland<\/strong>. The food festival has teamed up with Bishop Auckland College\u2019s The McIntyre Centre to invite budding bakers, foodies, and creative cooks to submit their ideas for a truly local pie that captures the flavours, spirit, and personality of the Bishop Auckland area. Favourite suggestions will be cooked at The McIntyre Centre and judged, with one lucky creation crowned the winner and sold across the food festival weekend for everyone to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n![\"Dragons\u2019](\"https:\/\/durhammagazine.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Jasmine-Mitchell-please-credit-Dominic-Mould-810x1024.webp\")
Jasmine Mitchell \u2013 please credit Dominic Mould\n<\/div>\nTo find out more visit www.bacoll.ac.uk\/piecompetition<\/a>. Entries must be submitted before 28 February.<\/p>\nThe festival is also offering a treat for chocolate lovers, with workshops from chocolatier Paul A. Young both days. Paul will be running hour-long Perfect Truffles Masterclass and Adventures with Chocolate sessions, both the Saturday and Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Booking for these is required via the festival website, where further information on everything happening across the two days can be found, at www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really looking forward to Bishop Auckland Food Festival and\u00a0<\/p>\n
thrilled to be announcing that Lumberjaxe, Jasmine and Briony will be part of the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know how important food and drink are to visitors to County Durham and how many jobs they sustain here, supporting our economy in the process. It\u2019s therefore fitting that we\u00a0<\/p>\n
can organise events such as Bishop Auckland Food Festival that recognise and celebrate all that food and drink contribute to our area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t wait for everyone to come along and enjoy an amazing selection of food with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lumberjaxe\n<\/div>\nLumberjaxe <\/strong>is made up of\u00a0brothers Brendon and Jaydon Manders, who together came up with a seasoning and sauce brand, with the purpose of making preservative free products that are lower in\u00a0salt and sugar. The brothers, who share a love of outdoor cooking, appeared on BBC Dragons\u2019 Den in February 2025, successfully securing investment from global business leader Emma Grede. Their pitch was described as \u201cone of the most powerful moments in Dragons\u2019 Den history.\u201d<\/p>\n Jasmine Mitchell<\/strong> brought a calm, methodical approach to the baking tent during her successful run in last year\u2019s \u2018Bake Off, earning five \u2018Star Baker\u2019 titles and multiple handshakes from Paul Hollywood. Not only did she showcase an unbeatable set of skills, flavours and designs, she also brought personal authenticity to the competition, openly sharing her journey with alopecia and choosing to bake without a wig, a powerful statement of confidence that drew a huge response from viewers.<\/p>\n Briony May Williams <\/strong>appeared on\u00a0series nine of \u2018Bake Off in 2018, finishing fourth. She\u00a0now presents BBC One\u2019s property series, Escape To The Country, as well as being one of the presenters of BBC One\u2019s Morning Live. Her other TV credits include Pointless Celebrities, House Of Games and The Weakest Link. Briony\u2019s first cookbook, The Retro Recipe Society, was published earlier this year.<\/p>\n Ahead of the festival, meanwhile, people are being given the chance to take part in a competition to come up with a recipe for a pie that represents Bishop Auckland<\/strong>. The food festival has teamed up with Bishop Auckland College\u2019s The McIntyre Centre to invite budding bakers, foodies, and creative cooks to submit their ideas for a truly local pie that captures the flavours, spirit, and personality of the Bishop Auckland area. Favourite suggestions will be cooked at The McIntyre Centre and judged, with one lucky creation crowned the winner and sold across the food festival weekend for everyone to enjoy.<\/p>\n To find out more visit www.bacoll.ac.uk\/piecompetition<\/a>. Entries must be submitted before 28 February.<\/p>\n The festival is also offering a treat for chocolate lovers, with workshops from chocolatier Paul A. Young both days. Paul will be running hour-long Perfect Truffles Masterclass and Adventures with Chocolate sessions, both the Saturday and Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Booking for these is required via the festival website, where further information on everything happening across the two days can be found, at www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nJasmine Mitchell \u2013 please credit Dominic Mould\n<\/div>\n