These Are The Best Summer 2019 Food Festivals In London

By Shekha Vyas Last edited 57 months ago

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These Are The Best Summer 2019 Food Festivals In London

From seafood to jerk, gelato to actually-decent gig nosh — here's the lowdown on the finest food festivals in London throughout summer 2019.

London food festivals in May 2019

All Points East

BBQ Dreamz

This east London musical juggernaut gets an honourable mention for its second year supporting local food traders. Alongside a well-documented stellar line-up of live music, APE is a foodie paradise with a focus on east London businesses. Curated by Tower Hamlets-based Sourced Market, highlights include vegan food from Biff’s Jack Shack, rice noodle pots and summer rolls from Hanoi Kitchen and BBQ Dreamz’s Filipino flavours. The festival is also reprising its partnership with drinks company Jägermeister. The company’s stage and bar Jägerhaus is back, offering ice cold shots and cocktails including the Jägermeister Mule, a zesty mix of ice-cold Jägermeister and ginger beer, garnished with fresh cucumber — served up by Hubertus Circle bartenders.

All Points East
When: 24-27 May
Where: Victoria Park, Victoria Park Road, E9 7BT
Entry: With festival tickets; free on 27 May

Jerk & Beyond

This inaugural celebration of Caribbean cooking has been curated by Sham Mahabir, of the Trinidadian Limin Bar and Restaurant in Spitalfields. Cooking from all over Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and Guyana will be showcased, alongside Plantation rums and music and dancing from Notting Hill festival group Bacchanalia Mas.

Jerk & Beyond
When: 25-27 May
Where: Old Spitalfields Market, 1 Crispin Place, E1 6DW
Entry: Free

Foodies Festival

MasterChef UK winner Irini Tzortzoglou is at Foodies Festival

The usual appearances from celebrity chefs and MasterChef alumni can be expected again this year, as leafy Syon Park plays home to a series of workshops, live music and more than 20 street food traders. MasterChef winners Irini Tzortzoglou and John Partridge cook live in the Chef’s Theatre along with Jose Pizarro, and TV chef and author Valentina Harris.

Foodies Festival
When: 25-27 May
Where: Syon Park, Road, Brentford, TW8 8JF
Entry: £29 for three-day weekend pass

KERB: Jam on Rye

Street food company KERB’s Peckham festival is back for its second year, this time headlined by the R'n'B superstar behind hit song Milkshake, Kelis. The festival is a vibrant mix of food traders, live music and family activities. Expect to sample bao and pan-Asian dishes from Eat Chay, Club Mexicana’s vegan Mexican-inspired cuisine and grilled meats from Only Jerkin'. There are four stages featuring reggae, jazz and afrobeat.

KERB: Jam on Rye
When: 27 May
Where: Peckham Rye Park, Strakers Road, SE15 3UA
Entry: £30

The Ends

Burger Boy at The Ends

Another festival worthy of mention for its support for local food operators is Croydon’s The Ends. It is the perfect opportunity to sample some of the best that south London has to offer. Pink Cactus’s delicious tacos are made using authentic Mexican cooking techniques, while Louisiana po’boy sandwiches are on offer from soul food vendors, Bayou. Croydon’s Burger Boy serve their signature mac & cheese croquettes, while Nigerian sibling duo, The Flygerians, are serving some homestyle West African flavours.

The Ends
When: 31 May-2 June
Where: Lloyd Park, Croydon, CR0 5RA
Entry: from £50

London food festivals in June 2019

London Seafood Festival

Battersea Power Station hosts the second annual London Seafood Festival. The packed line-up of pop-ups, chef collaborations and talks, along the River Thames, feature appearances from Asma Khan of Darjeeling Express and Vivek Singh of Cinnamon Kitchen, who will be hosting a special seafood feast. No 29 Power Station West puts on a sustainable seafood supper and the Wright Brothers oversee an exclusive oyster masterclass aboard an MBNA Thames Clippers boat.

London Seafood Festival
When: 12-16 June
Where: Battersea Power Station, Circus West, Sopwith Way, SW8 4NN
Entry: Free

Taste of London

This huge London celebration of food and drink returns to Regent's Park for five days. Expect the usual appearances from Michelin-starred names, demonstrations, workshops and the chance to sample dishes from some of the city’s best restaurants. This year’s highlights include masterclasses by The Fire Pit and The Wild Kitchen, bars from Tanqueray, Johnnie Walker and Ketel One, and menus boasting a mind-boggling spectrum of cuisine.

Taste of London
When: 19-23 June
Where: Regent's Park, Inner Circle, NW1 4NR
Entry: From £23

Gelato Festival

A perfect way to usher in the summer, The Gelato Festival returns to Central London for two days at the atmospheric Covent Garden Piazza. The festival sees 16 of the very best artisanal gelato chefs going head-to-head for the prestigious Gelato World Masters award. The festival features tastings, talks and workshops in three 13-metre food trucks, a spectacle, in itself — and a rare chance to see the largest mobile gelato laboratory in the world, the 'Buontalenti.'

Gelato Festival
When: 23-24 June
Where: Covent Garden Piazza
Entry: £15

London food festivals in July 2019

WingJam

Wing fans will be sorry to miss this three-day extravaganza dedicated to all things chicken wing. 30 types of wings from traders up and down the country are served for the bargain price of £1 each. Diners can sample signature chicken from Chicken George, Brother Bird, Harlem Soul and more, while everyone will be given a free bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce when it’s time to go home.

WingJam
When: 5-7 July
Where: The Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST
Entry: From £13.50

Craft Beer Rising's Brew Summertime at British Summer Time

CBR has teamed up with one of London’s biggest festivals for two days of music, beer and food. Building on the success of its February event, this new offering features a 4,000 capacity bonanza of the very best artisanal beer from some of the globe's best breweries, cider and spirits. Music is provided by a host of iconic DJs.

Craft Beer Rising's Brew Summertime
When: 10-11 July
Where: Hyde Park, W1
Entry: From £5.90

Great British Food Festival

This artisan-focused festival is set against the verdant backdrop of Chiswick House. 50 different traders will be serving food, direct from producer to diner. Workshops, demonstrations, men vs food competitions and family activities are also happening and people who enter a cake into the festival competition will gain free entry.

Great British Food Festival
When: 12-14 July
Where: Chiswick House and Gardens, Burlington Lane, W4 2RP
Entry: From £5

National Geographic Traveller Food Festival

Adam Handling from Frog appears at the festival

Michelin-starred Raymond Blanc, Frog’s Adam Handling and broadcaster Andi Oliver make an appearance at this inaugural travel and education-based festival from National Geographic Traveller. They're joined by John Torode, Felicity Cloake and Shivi Ramoutar. As well as talks, interviews, demonstrations and stands from producers and tour operators, a wealth of global culinary flavours is to be expected. Capturing the spirit of the National Geographic, visitors can discover food from little publicised places such as Montenegro and Dominica.

National Geographic Traveller Food Festival
When: 20-21 July
Where: Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Angel, N1 0QH
Entry: £22

London food festivals in August 2019

London Craft Beer Festival

More than 80 breweries from around the world promise to make this festival an unforgettable experience. Talented brewers — including France’s Brasserie Popihn and Spain’s Basqueland Brewing Project — join the best of the UK (think Northern Monk, Pressure Drop and King's Cross-based Two Tribes) to offer almost 500 beers on tap. The line-up also includes the UK unveiling of Matt Orlando’s new brewery Broaden & Build. Food from Berber and Q, Putt Cue and Club Mexicana is on the cards for what is sure to be an unmissable event.

London Craft Beer Festival
When: 9-11 August
Where: Tobacco Dock, 50 Porters Walk, Hackney, London, E1W 2SF
Entry: From £40 (including beer)

London Dessert Festival

The multi-sensory London Dessert Festival makes its debut this August, showcasing the best in puddings and sweet dishes from across the UK. Themed rooms, interactive experiences and beautifully presented, decadent food promise an indulgently good time. Delectable desserts include macaron ice cream sandwiches, designer doughnuts and vegan sugary treats.

London Dessert Festival
When: 17-18 August
Where: The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
Entry: From £18.65

Meatopia

Meatopia returns once again for an epic weekend of grilling, smoking, curing and eating ethically sourced, high quality meat. More than 40 chefs from London’s biggest restaurants descend upon Tobacco Dock to celebrate everything carnivorous. Names include Cut + Grind’s Paschalis Loucaides, Smokestak’s David Carter, Amninder Sandhu from Mumbai restaurant Aarth and Hoppers’ Renjith Sarathchandran. You'll come out very full, and very smoky.

Meatopia
When: 30 August-1 September
Where: Tobacco Dock, 50 Porters Walk, Wapping, E1W 2SF
Entry: From £23.85

London Brunch Fest

At last, an entire festival dedicated to the best meal of the weekend. Foodie venue Old Truman Brewery plays host to all things brunch. Menus featuring all the classics like pancakes, avocado on toast, and of course lots of coffee and cocktails, reign supreme this weekend. A programme of talks, live music and workshops make this an all-day kind of thing.

London Brunch Fest
When: 31 August-1 September
Where: The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
Entry: From £12.50

London food festivals in September 2019

Pub in the Park

Two Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge brings his Pub in the Park festival to Chiswick House for the first time. The weekend features the shining stars of the pub and bar scene at the moment, including Kerridge’s own The Hand & Flowers. Other names on the roster include Claude Bosi’s Oyster Bar at Bibendum, Rick Stein’s Barnes Restaurant and The Hinds Head in Bray. Music from Gabrielle, Clean Bandit and Texas, amongst others, give this festival the perfect soundtrack to close the summer.

Pub in the Park
When: 6-9 September
Where: Chiswick House and Gardens, Burlington Lane, W4 2RP
Entry: From £32.10

Hospitality in the Park

London's biggest celebration of drum and bass also has a compelling food trader list. The festival, which returns to Finsbury Park for a fourth year, boasts traders like Cheeky Burger, Hidden Pizza and Pop Dogs. Music will feature top artists and DJs including Mala and Camo & Krooked.

Hospitality in the Park
When: 21 September
Where: Finsbury Park
Entry: £51

Japan Matsuri Festival

This free festival celebrating Japanese culture returns to Trafalgar Square, bringing people together to enjoy Japanese food, music, dance, and activities. As well as having plenty to do from origami to calligraphy, visitors can get stuck into the likes of sushi, takoyaki and yakitori, served from stalls.

Japan Matsuri Festival
When: 29 September
Where: Trafalgar Square
Entry: Free

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Last Updated 04 June 2019