Food & Drink Festivals

CAMRA's flagship event. 900+ beverages, 450+ British beers, 200 foreign beers, cask ales, cider and perry. Held annually since 1977. Note: 2026 cancelled due to financial reasons. 2025 was at NEC Birmingham. Typically £12–18 day tickets. Champion Beer of Britain awards announced on opening Tuesday.

CAMRA's winter companion to GBBF. Dark beers, stouts, porters, strong ales, and winter warmers rotate between regional venues (Newcastle, Derby, Manchester). Usually 200+ winter ales and ciders. CAMRA members get discounted entry.

One of the largest volunteer-run beer festivals in the UK. 400+ real ales, 100+ ciders, live music, and street food. Held at Christchurch Meadows. CAMRA-run with strong local brewery representation from the Thames Valley.

Set in the grounds of Nottingham Castle. 1,000+ beers and ciders from around the world. One of the largest outdoor beer festivals in Europe. Live music across multiple stages. Typically runs for 4 days. Castle admission included in ticket.

Four-day festival at York Racecourse. 500+ real ales, international beers, ciders, and perries. Food village with local traders. CAMRA-run with awards presentations. Scenic backdrop of York Minster visible from the site.

One of the largest free-entry beer festivals in the UK. 400+ real ales, ciders, and wines. No admission charge — you pay for what you drink. CAMRA East Anglia. Riverside location on the Embankment. Live music and food stalls.

The UK's largest dedicated cider and perry festival. 150+ Welsh and British ciders and perries. Live folk music, orchard talks, and cider-making demonstrations. Set in the grounds of the historic Caerphilly Castle.

Modern craft beer festival showcasing UK and international breweries. 50+ brewers, unlimited tastings with session tickets. Street food, DJ sets, and brewery meet-and-greets. Held at the Tobacco Factory or harbourside venues.

CAMRA's annual winter kickoff event. 500+ real ales, 150+ ciders, foreign beers, and key kegs. Held in the former railway station Manchester Central (GMEX). Four days of sessions. CAMRA members get free entry to afternoon sessions.

Local CAMRA festival in the hometown. 200+ Sussex and British ales, ciders, and perries. Often held at Brighton Centre or Corn Exchange. Good value entry. Sussex breweries heavily represented — Harvey's, Dark Star, Burning Sky.

West Wales CAMRA festival in the historic market town of Haverfordwest. 150+ real ales and ciders. Smaller, friendlier atmosphere than the mega-festivals. Live local music and Pembrokeshire food producers.

Three-day festival on the banks of the River Severn at Worcester Racecourse. 200+ real ales, ciders, and perries. Marquee setting with live music. CAMRA-run. Good value with early bird ticket discounts.

The UK's most prestigious food festival. Two days of chef demonstrations, market stalls, foraging walks, and tastings. Held in the historic Monmouthshire market town. Attracts 30,000+ visitors. Celebrity chefs, artisan producers, and wine merchants from across Britain.

The original slow food festival, running for over 25 years in the foodie town of Ludlow. Castle grounds filled with 150+ artisan producers. Sausage and ale trails, bread-making workshops, foraged food walks. Known as the UK's first proper food festival.

Yorkshire's food capital hosts this two-day celebration. 100+ traders, cookery theatre with local chefs, street food, and live music. Free entry to the main festival site with paid tastings and workshops. Famous for its artisan bread, charcuterie, and Yorkshire produce.

Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth's hometown festival. Chef demonstrations from TV personalities, local seafood, mulled wine, and harbour lights. Four days of Christmas food, drink, and coastal atmosphere. Free to wander; demo tickets extra.

Dating back to Norman times, this is one of Britain's oldest food festivals. Parades, oyster eating competitions, live music, and fresh oysters straight from the sea. Harbour-side pubs and pop-up stalls. Much of the event is free to attend.

The UK's largest cheese show and competition. 4,000+ cheeses judged from around the world. Trade-focused on the first day, then opens to the public. Cheese tastings, food stalls, and live music. A paradise for cheese enthusiasts.

Two-day celebration of Anglesey shellfish and Welsh produce. Oysters, mussels, lobster, and crab from the Menai Strait. Chef demos, local brewers, and artisan food stalls. Held at the Anglesey Showground. Ticketed entry with tasting tokens.

Free festival celebrating the famous Caerphilly cheese. Cheese races, cheese-carving demonstrations, local food stalls, and live music. Held in the shadow of Caerphilly Castle. Family-friendly with plenty of non-cheese food options too.

Quirky Hampshire festival celebrating the watercress that built the town. Watercress soup, watercress beer, watercress ice cream. Street parade, morris dancing, and local food stalls. Free entry. A delightfully odd British tradition.

North East England's biggest food festival. 150+ food and drink stalls, chef demos, and live music. Free entry to the main market. Local specialties include stotties, pease pudding, and Durham ales. Held in the historic market town.

Two-day festival celebrating the pungent bulb. Garlic beer, garlic ice cream, garlic sausages, and even garlic fudge. Live music, cookery demos, and circus acts. Entry fee includes access to all entertainment. Camping available on-site.

The capital's premier food festival. Top London restaurants serve taster portions in open-air stalls. Michelin-starred chefs do demos. Wine, champagne, and cocktail bars. Live music. £22–28 entry plus food tokens. Two weekends in June. Very popular — book early.

The UK's largest free food and drink festival. Four days of street food, real ale, chef demos, and live music. 200+ stalls, multiple music stages, and family entertainment. Attracts 250,000+ visitors across the August bank holiday weekend.

Three-day waterfront festival. Welsh producers, street food, and bars line Cardiff Bay. Cookery theatre with Welsh chefs, artisan market, and live music. Free entry. One of Wales' biggest outdoor events.

Two-day festival in Sefton Park. Street food village, real ale tent, gin garden, and prosecco bar. Chef demos, live music, and family activities. Entry fee includes access to all zones. Popular with the city's thriving food scene.

Multiple events throughout the year including the Autumn Harvest festival, restaurant weeks, and wine tastings. The flagship event is a multi-day street food and producer market. Sussex wines, local seafood, and craft drinks feature heavily.

Travelling food festival visiting 8–10 cities per year including Brighton, Bristol, Edinburgh, Oxford, and London. Street food, chef theatres, artisan producers, cocktail bars, and live music. Day tickets £12–18. Family-friendly with dedicated kids' zone.

Three-day celebration of South Devon food and drink. Harbour-side events, restaurant specials, cookery demos, and foraging walks. Many events free; some tastings ticketed. Seafood, cheese, and local ales. Picturesque coastal setting.