Foodies Festival Returns To Brighton's Preston Park This Weekend!

The Foodies Festival kicks off the summer festival season in Brighton this weekend with TV chefs, live music, food and drink.

Held at Preston Park, Brighton from May 4 to 6, there'll be an extensive menu of TV chefs, cooking show champions and music stars on the stage, or the first event of what organisers boast is the 'UK’s biggest celebrity food and music festival tour,' which will visit 14 regions throughout the summer.

Artists performing over the weekend include Scouting For Girls, Sister Sledge and the Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra.

Brighton’s fabulous Drag Queens host the music stage throughout the weekend, bringing their wicked sense of humour and full on glam to the park, including, Brit Pop icon, Amy Laqueefa, blonde bombshell, Darcey Nox, and Irish beauty, Cherry Bomb.

Celebrities and chefs drawn from the ranks of MasterChef, Great British Bake Off and Great British Menu will cook their favourite dishes live in the many interactive theatres, and talk about the challenges they faced on TV's biggest cooking shows.

These include: MasterChef champion, Tom Rhodes, MasterChef: The Professionals champion, Alex Webb, Great British Menu winner, Michael Bremner, MasterChef: The Professionals champion, Steven Edwards, Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch chef, James Golding, Great British Bake Off favourite, Jürgen Krauss, Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch bread expert, Jack Sturgess and ITV This Morning wine experts Tom Surgey and Joe Wadsack.

The festival will also be launching its brand new Lumberjaxe Fire Stage where visitors can watch the BBQ masters in action, with demonstrations of fire-cooked recipes and some of the food on offer such as Cowboy Butter Tomahawk Steak. 

Showcasing the best of Brighton and beyond, many of the regions most-highly acclaimed Michelin and multi-award-winning chefs will also appear at the event, including: Peter Dantanus, from Burnt Orange, Jamie Halsall, from Cin Cin, Mark Charker, from The Bell in Ticehurst, Will Devlin, from The Small Holding, Lee Parsons, from The Parsons Table, Alun Sperring, from Chilli Pickle, Paul Peters, from Amberley Castle, Sophie Taverner, from Lost in the Lanes, Rishi Anand, from The Permit Rooms and Oscar Kirkpatrick, from The Lanes. 

In the Kids Cookery School younger guests can prepare food to take away and enjoy and join in the fun with the Mad Hatter's Tea Party!

Masterclasses in the Drinks Theatre include tutored champagne, beer, cider, cocktail and wine-tasting.

Visitors can browse the latest food trends in the Shopping Village, meet local producers in the Artisan Market and taste exotic and unusual new dishes in the Feasting Tent, which features a range of street food and delicacies from all four corners of the globe. Over 200 exhibitors will take part in the event. 

Throughout the weekend, the Music Stage presents a summer soundtrack with tribute acts, cover bands and local bands, including: Funk Odyssey Band, Majestix, h.eldritch, Barulho, Blunter Brothers, Caitlin McCarthy Band, Duane Forrest, Erica Jean, Fond of Rudy, Galaxy Thief, Livvy English Band, Lyra, Ministry of Anthems, The 45s, Nadia Moon, Rock Choir, The Ogretones and The Soul Steppers. 

Other attractions and new features include: Battle of the TV Chefs, Cook School with experts, Silent Disco Parties, Chilli Eating competitions, fairground rides, pop-up rock choirs, children’s activities and family-friendly areas. 

Details can be found at: www.foodiesfestival.com