Food festivals are fast chasing music festivals as the must-visit events of the sunny season. Summer is, of course, all about eating alfresco – from packing everything up into tupperware boxes for a picnic, getting the barbecue on, or visiting a seafront fish and chip shop.
We’ve rounded up four of this years best food festivals happening around the UK.
Leeds Indie Food Fest
Leeds is fast becoming a rival for London’s independent eateries and street food scene. Over the last few weeks Leeds has hosted 130 events across two weeks, including dinners, cocktail parties, pop-ups, tours and tastings which showcase the most mouth-watering eateries and coolest venues across the city.
The festival is coming to a close this weekend, so make sure you make it down there to avoid disappointment.
Leeds Indie Fest will run up to 30th May. Festival Passport’s are £10.
Taste of London
From 15th-19th June, Regents Park will be transformed into a foodie’s heaven, offering five days of eating, drinking and entertainment.
Enjoy signature dishes from the city’s finest restaurants, learn tricks of the trade from world-class chefs and sample gourmet food and drink producers. So, whether you’re a well-dined critic, a new-found food lover or simply looking for a good time with friends, there really is something for everybody at Taste of London.
15 – 19 June; Regents Park. Tickets from £16.
The Pommery Dorset Seafood festival
This annual festival is a charitable event celebrating Dorset’s inseparable links with the sea and its fishing communities. The festivals theme explores the journey our seafood takes from ‘sea to plate’ whilst promoting sustainable and responsible fishing. The Pommery gives you a fantastic opportunity to meet some of the best fresh seafood producers in the UK whilst enjoying oysters and champagne in the sun.
The Pommery Dorset Seafood festival is held on the 9th & 10th July 2016 at Weymouth Harbour, Dorset.
The Big Feastival
The Big Feastival is the brainchild of Jamie Oliver and artisan cheese-maker Alex James. The duo hold their foodie fest on Alex’s Cotswolds farm, and with a weekend-long lineup of feasts, banquets, demos from top chefs and wellness workshops, you’re sure to leave well and truly satisfied (and with some new cooking tricks up your sleeve).
This year’s lineup includes Raymond Blanc, Dan Doherty and Tom Kerridge whilst The Art of Dining offers an immersive dining experience with their Fairy Tale feast.
The Big Feastival is running from the 26-29th August. Buy your tickets here.