Tickets are selling fast for November’s Venison Dinner at Farnham Castle. A tradition that goes back over 400 years, the Venison Dinner is thought to be unique to Farnham. It is a four-course meal which sees the Mayor of Farnham presented with the venison to carve for the assembled guests.

“This is a very special Farnham tradition that anyone can purchase tickets for so get a group of family, friends or colleagues together and enjoy an evening of amazing food in the atmospheric setting of Farnham Castle,” says Pat Frost, Chairman of the Venison Dinner organising committee. “As well as providing the wonderful venue, I’d like to thank Farnham Castle for sponsoring the table wine this year. Among the special guests joining the Mayor are the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Bill Biddell, local MP Jeremy Hunt and Colin Channon the editor of the Farnham Herald. If you have not come to a Venison Dinner before, I would encourage you to join us this year and be part of this great tradition.”

The dinner takes place on the evening of Thursday 14 November. Tickets are £70 a head which includes a four-course meal (vegetarian option available), pre-dinner drink, coffee and petits fours. To apply for tickets, visit the Farnham Town Council website at www.farnham.gov.uk.

The Venison Dinner dates back to 1605, the same year as the Gunpowder Plot, when the bailiffs and burgesses of Farnham arranged for a venison dinner to be offered to the townspeople in an attempt to discourage them from poaching deer in Farnham Park. Nowadays, the meal is an opportunity for the people of Farnham to dress up and enjoy a formal but relaxed meal among friends with some entertaining speeches to introduce formal toasts to the town and responses.