Festival season is upon us and if you’ve missed out on the biggest music festivals this summer there is still time to grab tickets to a different kind of festival: A foodie one.
Instead of pitching a tent and getting caked in mud, food festivals are mostly day affairs – where you can swap dancing until dawn for local delicacies and live cooking shows.
As food festivals get more popular it means more variety – from healthy dishes to those that cater for vegans and gluten-free. Here are the healthiest options, ready for you to book this summer.
Healthiest food festivals in the UK
Taste of London
Gobinder Jhitta
Whenever Taste of London rocks around you know it’s officially summer – it would be good, however, if the weather got the memo. Based in London’s Regents Park it hosts some of London’s top restaurants -including Mimosa and Milk Beach. This year you can also discover new healthy bites and drinks, from Odyesa’s new dips range to FHIRST, a new gut-loving soda.
After you’ve devoured the food, you can try out your crazy golf skills or watch the theatrics at the firepit. If you’re looking for something a bit more indulgent you can also sip on Château La Coste or Piper-Heidsieck. Cheese lover? Sign up for one of Grana Padano & Prosecco DOC’s tasting classes – insightful and yummy.
Dates: Wednesday 12th June – Sunday 16th June
Cost: Tickets from £20 Book here
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Pub in the Park
Pub in the Park
Touring the country with your favourite chefs, including Tom Kerridge and Rick Stein – you can watch them create masterpieces – but they’re not all as calorific as you may think. You’ll find amazing cuts of meat from restaurants such as Hangfire Smokehouse, plus veggie boa buns at taco-style bites. If you fancy a tipple while you’re there famous English winery Chapel Down is sponsoring the event – so make sure you grab a glass.
As their name suggests they’ll also be celebrating award-winning local pubs and restaurants – so expect pub grub too. But, that’s not all – you can also dance the night away to DJ’s and bands – with acts such as Olly Murs, Paloma Faith and Busted. Take your family or your best friend – eat, dance and enjoy the late summer evenings.
Dates: Various dates throughout the summer in St Albans, Chiswick and Reigate.
Cost: Tickets from £55 Book here
Dorset Seafood Festival
The Dorset Seafood Festival
Not only is seafood great for our brain, eye and heart health – it’s also pretty tasty. Whether you’re a local or fancy a weekend away this festival, based in Weymouth, is in its 16th year and celebrates the variety of seafood available in Dorset and the South West – bringing together talented chefs, fishermen, and producers – all while raising money for The Fishermen’s Mission.
So what should you expect? Chefs cooking on stage, live music, fabulous street food, plus a Louis Pommery wine garden and a Badger Brewery Beer Garden.
Dates: 7th & 8th September
Cost: Tickets from £15 Book here
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Edinburgh Food Festival
Returning to George Square, in the heart of the city, for another year of food treats from top Scottish chefs such as Carina Contini, Shirley Spear, Tom Lewis, Guy Grieve and Neil Forbes, it’s a foodie event not to be missed.
In the Treehouse Kitchen learn about the health benefits of wild food and fermentation, while you can also enjoy street food from some of Scotland’s finest. The Global Kitchen is also home to a wide variety of offerings to suit any dietary requirements with different vendors specialising in vegan, halal and gluten-free.
Dates: 19th – 28th July
Cost: Free to enter More details
The Big Feastival
The Big Feastival
Dubbed as the Glastonbury for foodies the big ‘feastival’ takes place in the Cotswolds and celebrates the local produce – choose from award-winning street food, and Michelin-starred meals or you can even try your hand at making it yourself at the cookery school.
Healthy treats range from steak teriyaki bowls to gluten-free paella, while your little ones can keep hydrated on juice pouches from Pip Organic. Once you’ve checked out the food, boogie the day or night away to a great lineup – including Becky Hill and Snow Patrol.
Dates: 23rd – 25th August
Cost: Tickets from £93 Book here
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Streatham food festival
Mark Chilvers
If you’re a South Londoner, or just want to venture to the other side of the river you’ll find this food festival with a twist. It aims to encourage residents and visitors to try somewhere new and explore the wide range of cuisines available. The event will see over 40 restaurants, cafes and bars offering special taster dishes.
If you’re looking for healthy options head to local gym and café BeWYLD (who also offer food prepping) who will be offering acai bowls and Meze super salads. The Monkey Leaf café, Manor Arms and Elements Sushi will also have some healthy bites over the weekend.
Dates: 20th – 23rd June
Cost: Free entry – dishes priced separately More details
Great British Food Festival
Touring the country, with pop-up festivals on the grounds of stately homes, such as Ashridge House in Hertfordshire, expect local street food vans, live music and kids’ cookery classes.
Sign up for foraging walks – where you can learn about picking your own fruit or vegetables, while the fire pit will be cooking up fresh prawns, meat and fresh fish.
Dates: Various – from June to September
Cost: Tickets from £15 Book here
Underbelly festival
Underbelly
Taking over Cavendish Square, just off Oxford Street, from July to September the square will be decked out with outdoor seating for alfresco food and drinks in the sun – a perfect destination for street food lovers. Enjoy signature drinks at their new bespoke Spritz bar or enjoy healthy-ish dishes – including Mexican street food delicacies and freshly made authentic pasta with a summer twist.
The festival will also be showcasing live entertainment from circus acts to cabaret and comedy, plus children’s entertainment. Over the summer holidays, they’ll have a host of family-friendly shows.
Dates: July to September
Cost: Tickets from £15.50 Book here
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