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If you love cooking with local, seasonal ingredients, the Game Cookery Demonstration Theatre is one of the highlights of the New Forest & Hampshire County Show. Running across all three days of the 2026 Show – Tuesday 28 to Thursday 30 July at New Park, Brockenhurst – it brings the “forest to fork” story to life with live demonstrations, hands-on classes for children, and some of the area’s best-loved food producers, chefs and butchers.
At the heart of it all is Jen Williams, founder of New Forest artisan producer Naked Jam, who curates and hosts the Game Kitchen each year!
Who is Jen Williams and what is Naked Jam?
Jennifer Williams is the founder of Naked Jam, an artisan food producer based in Hordle on the edge of the New Forest. She grew up in Wales, where her mother taught her to forage for flowers and fruits long before the word “sustainable” was fashionable. Whether she was collecting rosehips, sloes, blackberries or rowanberries, the rule was always the same: harvest only what you can easily reach, and leave the rest for the birds and animals.
That respect for the landscape still runs through everything she does. Jen regularly leads groups of visitors out into the hedgerows to discover the magic of the countryside, and foraging remains at the very heart of Naked Jam.
With an environmental degree and years of hands-on experience, Jen has built Naked Jam around a genuine commitment to sustainability. The aim is to tread lightly, reduce the company’s footprint, and make a positive contribution to the community – both locally and globally by:
- using locally produced fruit and products
- cooking seasonally
- buying British ingredients
- following sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact and improve energy efficiency
What does Jen do at the New Forest Show’s Game Kitchen?
Each year, Jen curates and hosts the Game Cookery Demonstration Theatre, pulling together a programme built around one simple idea: From Forest to Fork. Expect a grassroots approach that celebrates local game and shows visitors how to get the very best from every animal – including the butchery techniques, skinning, offal and joints that are often overlooked.
Jen hosts sessions throughout each day, from her popular kids’ cookery classes making venison burgers to the afternoon “Game On” demonstrations and the daily Game Cookery Demo that closes the theatre at 3:30pm. She is joined by a line-up of local food heroes who share her passion for game and sustainable, seasonal cooking.
Who else is cooking in the Game Kitchen?
Jen brings together a rotating cast of chefs, butchers and producers across the three days, including:
- Sargents Butchers – Jonty Larkin leads a live venison breakdown. This proud, family-run business from Dibden Purlieu was established in 1963 and is a passionate advocate for locally sourced New Forest venison
- Chris Bailey – kicking off each morning with a venison carpaccio breakfast, and stepping in for a venison breakdown on the Thursday
- Neil Molyneux, Wadworth – a game cookery demonstration
- Chef Lewis – venison cookery
- Steve Hall, The Noisy Lobster – cooking trout on the Wednesday
- Interactive trout prep and “Game On” cookery school sessions running daily
Together they champion game as a versatile and sustainable local ingredient.
What’s on in the Game Cookery Theatre each day?
The daily programme runs from 9:30am to around 4pm across Tuesday 28, Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 July 2026. A typical day looks like this:
- 9:30am – Chris Bailey: Breakfast, venison carpaccio
- 10:30am – Trout prep, interactive demo
- 11:00am – Cookery School with Jen Williams: venison burgers (kids)
- 11:30am – Game cookery demonstration
- 12:30pm – Venison breakdown (Sargents Butchers, or guest butcher)
- 1:00pm – Venison cookery (with guest chefs, including Steve Hall of The Noisy Lobster on Wednesday)
- 2:30pm – Game On Cookery School
- 3:00pm – Cookery School with Jen Williams: Game On
- 3:30pm – Game Cookery Demo hosted by Jen Williams
The classes are full of inspiration to help you impress your guests at home, plus dedicated classes for children. Booking is required for the cookery classes.
How to find the Game Kitchen and book a class
The Game Cookery Demonstration Theatre is part of the Countryside Area. Cookery classes require booking. You can find out more about Jen and Naked Jam at www.naked-jam.co.uk
Your Questions Answered
The New Forest & Hampshire County Show takes place on Tuesday 28, Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 July 2026 at New Park, Brockenhurst, Hampshire. The Game Cookery Demonstration Theatre runs across all three days.
Jen Williams, founder of New Forest artisan producer Naked Jam, curates and hosts the Game Cookery Demonstration Theatre each year, free of charge. She is joined by a line-up of local chefs, butchers and food heroes across the three days.
Naked Jam is a New Forest artisan food producer based in Hordle, Hampshire, founded by Jennifer Williams. It is built around foraging, seasonal cooking and sustainable practices, using locally produced fruit and British ingredients. Find out more at www.naked-jam.co.uk.
Yes – booking is required for the Game Cookery classes, including the children’s sessions. Visit newforestshow.co.uk for details, timings and how to reserve your place.
Yes – Jen Williams runs kids’ cookery classes each day, including making venison burgers, plus other classes designed for children. Booking is required.
Jen is joined by local food heroes including Jonty Larkin of Sargents Butchers (Dibden Purlieu, established 1963) for a venison breakdown, Chris Bailey with a venison carpaccio breakfast, Neil Molyneux of Wadworth, Chef Lewis on venison cookery, and Steve Hall of The Noisy Lobster cooking trout – all champions of local game and sustainable, seasonal cooking.
