If you enjoy the spicier things in life, there's an annual festival in Peckham to get fired up about.
On Saturday 10-Sunday 11 May 2025, the Hot Sauce Society Festival makes a sizzling comeback at Copeland Park. Over 40 independent hot sauce makers dish up their scorching elixirs, including the innovative concoctions of Lazy Scientist, along with blazing newcomers like Captain Chippies Spiced Rum Hot Sauce and Little Baobab.
Though sauces can be tasted neat, you can also dig into Lucky's Chicken's Nashville hot chicken, as well as fiery (and not-so-fiery) food from 450 Degrees pizza, and C'est Cheese, who are serving up toasties and halloumi fries.
Fortunately, you can put out the fire in your mouth with drink offerings from Gipsy Hill Brewery, and Kraken Rum. And there's ice cream from Marcelo's too. Phew.
Napalming your taste buds aside, the festival sees Hop Burns and Black (local peddlers of beer, chilli sauce and vinyl) presenting Chilli Karaoke, where you're invited to sing your heart out while battling the heat of a scotch bonnet. (Songs, we would hope, would include Hot in Herre, Heatwave... and absolutely anything by Red Hot Chili Peppers.)
Hot Sauce Society Festival, Peckham, 10-11 May 2025.
