| Where: | Pontefract, Yorkshire at the Precinct |
| When: | 2nd Sunday in July (or Sunday of second weekend in the month) |
| Time: | 11am-4pm |
The centre of the British liquorice industry was Pontefract (remember those little black sweeties called Pontefract or Pomfret Cakes?) and the annual festival celebrates the town’s liquorice growing heritage. Originally used medicinally, liquorice is believed to have reached the UK with returning crusaders in medieval times; by the late nineteenth century there were 10 local sweet producers and today Wilkinsons still make the famous Cakes. As well as the expected edibles and drinks made from the roots, there are street entertainers, activities for children, history talks and stalls. As you can see, the lovely Liquorice Lady overcame her natural reticence to allow us to capture her image…..
Helpful Hints
In 2025 it should be on Sunday 13th July (to be confirmed).
An original liquorice tree still grows in the grounds of the Castle – it’s labelled and grows next to the walls of the Keep in the flower bed (it’s not as large as you might expect). There’s a pub named after it in the Market Place with a depiction on the sign – the Liquorice Bush.
We sampled bread, cake, tiffin and beer flavoured with liquorice and of course we had to buy some of the eponymous Pomfret Cakes. It’s a family friendly free festival (try saying that with a mouthful of liquorice).
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/129099183794860
Click here for the event website : https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/whats-on/
send me details of festival
Calendarcustoms has absolutely no connection to the running of the many events featured on the site – try contacting vic@wakefield.gov.uk who should be able to put you in touch with the organisers. Best of luck!
I hope to be able to come to 2017 festival edition. I am Italian but 2 days ago I met a family living in Pontefract and they spoke me about their town and its liquorice feast. I
didn t know about it. I ll be pleased if you can send to my email adress some touristic information on all this. Thank you in advance
Marilena Fornengo
Hi Marilena,
Thanks for your message! The best advice I can give you is to visit the website for the local area at http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/ and also their page for the Liquorice Festival at http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/residents/events-and-culture/events/pontefract-liquorice-festival which will be updated in plenty of time for next year and will tell you about any changes to the schedule from this year, and give you all the exact timings.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy it especially of you like liquorice!!
Best wishes,
Averil
Thanks a lot for your suggestions. You must know, (probably you realized it from my numerous mistakes writing English) that I am a foreigner, my mother tongue is Italian but I would like to improve English language and I like everything about Great Britain ( with or without Brexit has no importance)
No problem, Marilena,
I’m sure you’ll be made very welcome on your visit- hope you have a great time and that you’ll soon be speaking the language like a native 🙂
Best wishes,
Averil
Can you please send me details of this years liquorice festivel. Thank you.
Hi Yvonne,
If you follow this link you’ll get all the information direct from the organisers :http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/residents/events-and-culture/events/pontefract-liquorice-festival
It’s on July 9th, 10-4 and I expect further details will appear on their page as the date approaches.
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi,. My name is Rostam Neyshaboori and I am writing to you from Iran, land of licorice root.
This is the first time I ever read about this festival and I am completely amazed. It will be fantastic to meet the lovers of licorice in one place and I look forward to being there this summer. I try to bring some samples of organic licorice as souvenir for participants. I am sure they’ll like it.
And even further I can talk directly to licorice candy and twist makers that hopefully will end in their orders. Can you help me get in contact with the exhibitors and producers?
Many thanks…
Hi Rostam,
Great to hear from you! I’m sure the good people of Pontefract will be pleased to meet a liquorice enthusiast from Iran, and to sample the organic liquorice. We don’t have any connection with the exhibitors ourselves at calendar customs, but if you send an email to the Council at http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums you should get through to someone who’ll be able to help out. Best of luck!
Averil
could you keep me up to date for 2022 dates please – thank you
Hi Mark,
As soon as I find out the dates, I’ll put them up on the page so maybe bookmark it now and keep an eye on it nearer the time -event organisers are currently much later announcing dates at the moment with so much uncertainty around so it’ll probably be well into new year before they confirm it. Calendarcustoms doesn’t offer an email alert service to individuals – I’m a one-woman band and haven’t time to do that for over 750 events around the year and I always advise contacting the actual organisers direct as any changes will be on their own sites and media first ( we don’t have any connection to the organisation of any of the events featured on the website). You may get a firmer idea by contacting Experience Wakefield via the link under Helpful Hints but I wouldn’t expect any decision to be taken yet. Sorry I haven’t any inside info to offer -Fingers crossed- it’s a fun day out!
Averil
According to the Wakefield Rhubarb Festival booklet, the Pontefract Liquorice Festival will be on Sunday 9 July, as you thought
Thank you Roy- it’s always useful to have dates confirmed for certain!Hope you enjoyed the Rhubarb Festival- the ruby cheese was very tasty, I seem to remember…
Best wishes,
Averil