Festivals
Preview
The best UK festivals for foodies this summer
All the places you’ll want to be if you love live music and nice things to eat
Gone are the days when you could make it through a weekend of live music on just the Polos in your pockets and half a falafel wrap. Festivals are about more than just the music now – there’s arts, culture, activities, and lots and lots of food and drink. But some festivals go above and beyond, opening their gates to truly next-level culinary experiences.
From street food to fine dining, there’s an option to tickle every tastebud. Here are all the foodie festivals that should be on your plate this summer.
Parklife
If you’re a fan of street food then Parklife Festival is a top pick, especially if you’re willing to splurge on a VIP pass to access the exclusive Street Food Quarter. Even if you opt for general admission, there’s still a carefully curated range to explore here, to help you find the pizza/burrito/falafel/burger of your dreams.
Manchester, 10 – 11 June
TRNSMT
There’s a range of premium street food options waiting beyond the VIP entrance at TRNSMT, but the Glasgow festival always delivers regardless, with everything from hearty hot food to pick’n’mix on offer to all festivalgoers. By the time the 1975 take the stage on Sunday evening, you’ll probably be too full to move.
Glasgow, 7 – 9 July
Latitude
There’s an overwhelming amount on offer at Latitude this year, from huge music and comedy headliners to family play areas and even yoga classes. You’re bound to work up an appetite, but if scouring the festival grounds for a slice of pizza isn’t your thing, you’re in luck. Not only does Latitude have two on-site restaurants – the Guest Chef, where mystery famous people create mystery famous menus, and the Hothouse, where you’ll visit the festival’s version of a French brocante – but you’ll also be able to attend their Theatre of Food for cooking sessions, demos and panel discussions. Honestly, you might forget all about the music.
Suffolk, 20 – 23 July
Standon Calling
The festival famous for its hot tubs also has on-site fine dining because of course it does (no one’s getting in a hot tub after eating pot noodles). Chef Ben Quinn returns with his Rib & Quinn pop-up, serving up a wood-fired four-course banquet overlooking the festival valley. And if you’d rather take something to go, there’s still a dizzy array of award-winning street food on offer, from gourmet pies and French pralines to rendangs and bagels. Please just don’t take any of them with you to the hot tub.
Standon, Hertfordshire, 20 – 23 July
Wilderness
Wilderness don’t do eating and drinking; they do feasting and dining. In fact, food makes up a huge part of their line-up, with the likes of Olia Hercules, Jeremy Lee and Anthony Demetre treating guests to incredible culinary experiences. You may opt for one of their long table banquets, where you’ll sit down for a buzzy, atmospheric four-course dinner with your favourite campers, or the chef’s table experience, where you’ll watch Michelin-star food prepared before your very eyes. Already one of the best food festivals around, everything feels like an especially great bonus.
Oxfordshire, 3 – 6 August
Connect
Connect Festival loves food, and it loves people who love food. This year they’ve teamed up with Neighbourhood Market, a lockdown-born food market bringing some of the most sought-after food traders right to the festival grounds. But even more exciting than that is Chef Barry Bryson, who will be bringing his Barry Fish and Barry Fields menu to Connect for an exclusive fine dining experience (truffle brioche, venison carpaccio, langoustine tortellini…). There’s no better way to prepare for boygenius than with a four-course dinner and a wine flight.
Edinburgh, 25 – 27 August
