Rochdale Feel Good Festival: Simon Rimmer confirmed as head chef for Carillion sponsored Celebrity Kitchen | Festival News

Rochdale’s famous Music, Food, and Arts extravaganza returns in August with Simon Rimmer heading up a host of celebrity chefs over the weekend.

The organisers behind one of Greater Manchester’s biggest free events are delighted to announce a local sponsor and headline epicure for the first of 2013’s culinary confirmations.

This year’s Rochdale Feel Good Festival will see Simon Rimmer appear top of the bill in the Celebrity Kitchen. Restaurateur, co-host of Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, best-selling food writer, and prominent figure in the region’s cuisine scene, this celebrated chef (owner of Manchester’s Greens and Earle in Hale), will deliver cooking masterclasses at the event, which takes place on Friday 30th and Saturday August 31st.

Construction giant Carillion, with a head office in Trafford, has also been confirmed as the Celebrity Kitchen sponsor. The firm has a long history of working with Greater Manchester’s borough councils on various public projects, including Rochdale Council’s Building Schools for the Future campaign, which is run by inspiredspaces, a main stage partner for 2013’s festival, alongside the Local Education Partnership.

Claire Butler, General Manager of Carillion’s inspiredspaces, said:

“inspiredspaces and Carillion have been working in partnership with Rochdale Council since January 2010 to deliver the Council’s extensive Building Schools for the Future programme. Working so closely with secondary schools across the borough, as well as local partners, has given us a unique opportunity to get involved in all kinds of community events over the last four years.

“For example, last year we were heavily involved with the borough-wide programme of events and activities to celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives 2012, and we have also supported initiatives such as the Rochdale Business Awards.

“It’s really important that we have events in Rochdale like the Feel Good Festival, which bring people together in celebration and enjoyment, and we’re delighted to be able to support the Festival this year. Here’s looking forward to a fantastic summer of music, great food and entertainment – whatever the weather!”

The two-day Rochdale Feel Good Festival saw 10,000 people descend on the town centre to see musical acts such as Martha Reeves, Jesca Hoop, The Shinies, and Alex Hulme. Renowned chefs such as Jean Christophe-Novelli, Brian Turner, and Alison Seagrave were also on hand, entertaining the crowds with recipes and tips in the Celebrity Kitchen. This year marks the sixth anniversary of the event, and full details of the lineup will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Debbie O’Brien, of Rochdale Town Centre Management, said:

“With a stand out track record on public projects in the region, we are thrilled to have Carillion involved in what could well be the biggest and best installment of the Rochdale Feel Good Festival. Something of a North West institution, having such a recognisable company from the locality involved only makes it more of a celebration of the whole area.”

The Feel Good Festival is organised by Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Town Centre Management in partnership with RRG Toyota and The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre.