The lists of 'best festivals in the UK' can be subjective. For example, The London Jazz Festival is no good to those who can't appreciate the smooth sound of a saxophone. Similarly, Wireless is perhaps not the fit for the country-and-western fans. However, when it comes to the best food festivals in the UK, we can all see eye-to-eye, just as long as they meet the relevant criteria. They need to have a high quality of food- vendors who are as passionate as the guests they're serving. They need to have samples that go beyond chips and dip- we're talking shots of flavoured gins, squares of crunchy chocolates, little nibbles to keep us going between the meals. Finally, there needs to be a hustle and bustle, not so much so that queues are never-ending, but a certain buzz that's almost contagious. From the entertainment and atmosphere to the food and value for money, these are the best food festivals in the UK that we have attended over the past year.
The Best Food Festival For Samples & Freebies: Taste of London
Each year, a portion of Regent's Park is transformed into a foodie's paradise to welcome Taste of London. An aroma of barbecued meats waft through the air, mariachi music leads the way towards creamy guacamole, and every corner has a new vibrant spice, tangy sauce, or salty snack to take home and try. This is one of our favourite festivals in the UK for sampling alone. Each year we leave with multiple tote bags filled to the brim of freebies- from cans of every flavoured sparkling beverage you can imagine, to full-sized meals to heat up for dinner. Since its 2004 debut at Somerset House, Taste of London has grown to become one of the most popular events in London's summer calendar. With 36 Restaurants, 50 Chefs, and 150 Artisan Producers, each year at Taste of London is bigger and better than the last and no matter what ticket you opt for, there's a general attitude of it being five o clock somewhere. A guaranteed tasty day out.
The Liveliest Food Festival in the UK: Wing Fest
The biggest chicken wing festival in the world is also one of the most entertaining festivals in the UK, according to us. As you enter, grab a free trucker cap to remain glued to your head for the rest of the day. Wings, beers, competitions and country music- this festival feels as though you've stepped into an American town that only exists in storybooks. All wings are priced at £1.50, and the flavours range from traditional to the outright bizarre (apple crumble wings being just one example.) Partake in the the all-you-can-eat and hottest wing competitions, or watch on safely from the crowd- this food festival is one of its kind, and makes for an unforgettable summer day out.
The Best Festival in the UK for Grill-Seekers: Meatopia
Since 2013, each summer Tobacco Dock comes alive with billows of smoke and live music, marking the return of Meatopia. This festival doesn't put as much emphasis on gimmicks and freebies. Instead, it's focus is primarily on the chefs and quality of food. In their own words, Meatopia "is the only food festival that scours the world for chefs to invite, and insists on only ethically sourced meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables and sustainably produced wood and charcoal." You may not grab a tote bag of stickers to take home. However, the succulent, sizzling meats over smokey charcoal makes up for it. Not to mention experiencing a unique, carefully curated dish made by some of the best live-fire chefs from UK, Europe and the World. Some notable names partake in this one, such as renowned Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt, the Australian chef of Burnt Ends in Singapore Dave Pynt, the New York Times bestselling cookbook author Aaron Franklin, and plenty more. Needless to say, you're in safe hands, and when the all the salty goodness works up some thirst, there's ample, refreshing beverages to wash it all down.
The Best Free Food Festival: York Food Festival
Known for its medieval alleyways and historic city walls, we have another reason to add York to your list: the food scene. The York Food Festival is a completely free event which takes place from the 19th to the 28th of September- ten whole days of food & drink with a community focus. Around 70 Street-food and produce stalls take over Parliament Street, ranging from flavoured gins and creamy fudges, to poutine made with handcrafted cheese and fresh-cut potatoes from local farms (a dish that hasn't quite left our minds since last year). Tickets are available for certain events such as demonstrations and taste-trails with over twenty, tasty stops.
