A round-up of some of the best food and drink festivals this spring – we're spoiled for choice!
The sun is back (here and there), which can only mean that it's time to head outdoors and enjoy the great quality and variety of food on offer in the UK. Note that ticket prices stated here might not match the cost at the door, as they're often cheaper in advance.
Use the handy calendar below to get a glimpse of when events are on (click here for a full-sized version). To see more details about events, including links and ticket prices, keep scrolling.
CAMRA Real Ale & Cider Festivals
What: Beer and cider festivals throughout the UK – a great chance to try out some new brews.
When: Throughout spring
Where: Various locations
Cost: Around £5 entry, discounts for members
More info: www.camra.org.uk
Kendal Festival of Food
What: Kendal's annual food festival, which plays host to artisan producers, talks, tastings and entertainment.
When: 29th-30th March
Where: Various venues in Kendal, Cumbria
Cost: £15
More info: www.kendalfestivaloffood.co.uk
London Coffee Festival
What: Top tips on making a perfect cup of coffee from experts, a world coffee tour and even a poetry café. A must for coffee connoisseurs.
When: 3rd-6th April
Where: Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London
Cost: £3.50 for an adult; 75p for a child - family ticket available at £7.75
More info: www.londoncoffeefestival.com
Inverness Whisky Festival
What: Sample a range of whiskies, see food demonstrations and enjoy whisky cocktails plus a ceilidh on Saturday evening.
When: 4th-5th April
Where: Bogbain Farm, Inverness
Cost: £50 (weekend ticket)
More info: www.invernesswhiskyfestival.com
Gastrofest
What: The science behind our favourite food and drink.
When: 5th-20th April
Where: Edinburgh International Science Festival
Cost: Various for different events within Gastrofest
More info: www.sciencefestival.co.uk/whats-on/gastrofest
Birmingham Spring Market
What: Unusual foods, arts and crafts, live music, and award-winning coffee sold from a converted Morris Minor.
When: 12th April
Where: The Bond, Digbeth, Birmingham
Cost: Free
More info: www.springmarket.co.uk
Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival
What: 'Spring Harvest' festival, showcasing the wares of local producers, restaurants and bars.
When: 16th-27th April
Where: Brighton & Hove
Cost: Free entry to markets
More info: www.brightonfoodfestival.com
Great Missenden Food Festival
What: Special guests and family activities spread across the Easter weekend.
When: 18th-21st April
Where: Buryfields, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire
Cost: £3.50 for an adult, 75p for a child – family ticket available at £7.75
More info: www.doyoulovefood.co.uk
British Asparagus Festival
What: All things asparagus, including the Great English Asparagus Run on 23rd April. A related music festival, Asparafest, runs from 31st May-1st June. A notable special guest comes in the form of 'Gus'...
When: 23rd April-21st June
Where: Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire
Cost: From £6 for Asparafest
More info: www.britishasparagusfestival.org
Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink
What: Loads of food and drink exhibitors from across the South West region, demonstrations and live music.
When: 25th-27th April
Where: Exeter Castle, Exeter, Devon
Cost: £3.50 for an adult, 75p for a child – family ticket available at £7.75
More info: www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk
Bishop Auckland Food Festival
What: Cookery demonstrations, special guest chefs, entertainment and several food markets including the specialist 'Taste of Cumbria' stalls in the King's Lodge of the castle.
When: 26th-27th April
Where: Bishop Auckland College, Woodhouse Lane, County Durham
Cost: Free
More info: www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk
Coastal Foraging & Wild Food with Mark Williams
What: Foraging for wild food led by an expert. Find out how to select the best wild food and avoid the poisonous!
When: 26th-27th April
Where: Skatie Shore, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
Cost: £45 per adult, £20 per child
More info: www.foodiequine.co.uk
Munchies on the Meadow
What: Food tasting, cookery tips, local beer and wine, food growing tips and advice, recipes and competitions.
When: 3rd May
Where: The Meadow Room, The Street, Cobham, Kent
Cost: Free
More info: www.meadowroom.org.uk
Artisan Cheese Fair
What: An opportunity to taste 200 cheeses made by 50 cheesemakers from across Britain. Tutorial sessions and other local produce including ales, wines, Melton Mowbray Pork Pies and chutney.
When: 3rd-4th May
Where: Cattle Market, Melton Mowbray
Cost: £1
More info: www.artisancheesefair.co.uk
Scarisbrick Food Fayre
What: Artisan food 'village' held in a local garden centre; freshly picked vegetables and home-made treats for sale.
When: 4th-5th May
Where: Vincent's Garden Centre, Southport Road, Scarisbrick
Cost: Free
More info: scarisbrickfoodfayre.wordpress.com
Lancaster Food and Drink Festival
What: The best food and drink from Lancaster.
When: 4th-5th May
Where: Lancaster Leisure Park, Lancaster
Cost: Free
More info: www.visitlancashire.com
Dales Festival of Food & Drink
What: Locally produced food and drink (including a real ale festival), music and morris dancing, a chef's theatre and a livestock marquee with talks and demonstrations from farmers.
When: 3rd-5th May
Where: Leyburn, Wensleydale
Cost: Adult one-day ticket £8, three-day ticket £15. Children under 16 free (with accompanying adult)
More info: www.dalesfestivaloffood.org
Great British Food Festival
What: Local produce, live music, chef demos and artisan talks – plus junior cookery classes for the kids.
When: 3rd-5th May
Where: Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
Cost: Adults £6.50, children £2.50, family ticket £15 (2 adults & 2 children)
More info: www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com
Foodies Festival: Brighton Hove Lawns | Marble Hill House
What: Two festivals from the same organisers, with plenty of food and drink activities for adults and children, including feasting tents, tea tents and a chilli food market.
When: 3rd-5th May | 24th-26th May
Where: Hove Lawns, Hove | Marble Hill House, London
Cost: Weekend tickets: £18 – Hove | £22 – Marble Hill House
More info: www.foodiesfestival.com/event/brighton-hove-lawns/
www.foodiesfestival.com/event/marble-hill-house
Dorset Knob-throwing
What: Who can hurl a Dorset Knob the furthest? Find out and enjoy other events based around the eponymous biscuit.
When: 5th May
Where: Cattistock, Dorset
Cost: £2.50
More Info: www.dorsetknobthrowing.com
Stilton cheese-rolling
What: Teams battle it out to see who can roll a cheese-shaped piece out wood down a course fastest. Plus, lots of food and drink!
When: 5th May
Where: Stilton, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Cost: Free
More info: www.stilton.org/cheese-rolling/
International Bread Festival
What: Master bakers share tips and demonstrate the perfect bread-making techniques.
When: 5th May
Where: Castle Ward, Strangford, Downpatrick, Co. Down
Cost: TBC
More info: www.castlewardbreadfestival.com
Chorley Food Festival
What: Guest celebrity chefs, school's cook-off, and food exhibitors.
When: 10th-11th May
Where: The Flat Iron, Chorley
Cost: Free
More info: http://www.chorleyfoodfestival.co.uk/
Eat Cambridge
What: Food and drink markets, tasting and debates, plus cookery lessons, chef demos, secret supper clubs and more.
When: 10th-24th May
Where: Cambridge
Cost: Free entry to markets, other activities vary in price
More info: www.eat-cambridge.co.uk
Alcester and Forest of Arden Food Festival
What: Over 100 food stalls for you to pick and choose the finest food from local producers.
When: 17th May
Where: Central Alcester
Cost: Free
More info: www.alcesterfoodfestival.org.uk
Witney Festival of Food and Drink
What: Plenty of food and drink exhibitors, a festival kitchen and the local church's own 'Ravenous Rector' serving up food.
When: 17th May
Where: St. Mary's Church, Witney
Cost: TBC
More info: www.witneyfoodfestival.co.uk
Loch Fyne Food Fair
What: West coast food, live music, Loch Fyne Oysters and children's entertainment.
When: 17th-18th May
Where: Fields next to Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, Cairndow
Cost: Free
More info: www.lochfyne.com
Malton Food Lovers
What: Michelin-starred festival patrons (among others), cookery classes, demonstrations, food stalls and a festival bar. There will also be a wide range of vegetarian and vegan food available.
When: 17th-18th May
Where: Central Malton
Cost: Free entry, but you will have to buy tickets for special events
More info: www.maltonyorkshire.co.uk/beer-and-wine-festival
Devizes Food & Drink Festival 2014
What: Special guests, a Grand Market Fair, tea tasting, talks, walks and much more.
When: 17th-25th May (The Grand Market Fair takes place on the 17th)
Where: Devizes
Cost: Free
More info: www.devizesfoodanddrinkfestival.info
Burnham on Sea Food & Drink Festival
What: Burnham's Bake-Off and Brew-Offs, a chilli cook-off (with a very exciting prize on top of £200 cash) and plenty of food and drink for onlookers.
When: 24th May
Where: 5 venues in central Burnham on Sea
Cost: Free
More info: www.burnhamonseafoodfestival.org.uk
Hammer & Claw: Maryland Crab Feast
What: Crabs, hammers and bibs. Crack and smash your way through the feast with reckless abandon for your dignity and clothes. The organisers advise dressing down for this reason.
When: 24th May
Where: Farr's School of Dancing, London
Cost: £30
More info: www.eatmyworld.com
The Really Wild Food & Countryside Festival
Cancelled due to illness
The Famous Feastival
What: Book signings with Michelin-starred chef Tom Mitchin, food, whisky tasting, chocolate tasting, and live music.
When: 25th May
Where: Glenturret Distillery, The Hosh, Crieff
Cost: From £49 for masterclasses, from £80 for lunch.
More info: www.thefamousfeastival.net
The South of England Food & Drink Festival
What: Growers' and producers' market, street food, craft beer, food and drink masterclasses and a children's zone.
When: 25th May
Where: South of England Showground, Ardingly
Cost: Free
More info: www.foodrockssouth.co.uk/home
Cheese-Rolling Festival
What: Competition in which participants chase a cheese down an extremely steep slope. It can be very dangerous.
When: 26th May
Where: Cooper's Hill, Gloucester
Cost: Free
More info: www.cheese-rolling.co.uk
North Leeds Charity Beer Festival
What: Provides a chance to taste 'interesting and unusual beers' from micro and independent breweries in Yorkshire. Supports the Lord Mayor's Charity Appeal.
When: 30th-31st May
Where: St. Aidan's Church Community Hall, Roundhay Road, Leeds
Cost: £2 entry (free for CAMRA and SPBW members), £5 for a festival pack (includes glass, programme and 2 tokens). All drinks £1.50 per ½ pint
More info: www.northleedscharitybeerfestival.co.uk
Stratford Food Festival – At The Races
What: Horse racing, street food alley, over 70 artisan producers, real ale and cider tent, demonstrations and tastings plus music.
When: 30th May-1st June
Where: Stratford Racecourse
Cost: £10 for race days (30th-31st May), free on Sunday (1st June). Free for under 18s
More info: www.stratfordracecourse.net
If there are other great food events that aren't included here, please add them to the Comments section below – no trade events please.
You might also like: