Foodies Festival Returns to Exeter

FOODIES FESTIVAL – the UK’s biggest touring celebrity food and music festival series – returns to Exeter with a star-studded line-up of celebrity chefs and chart-topping music stars, including Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Toploader.

Known as Gastro-Glastonbury, the festival will take place at Escot Park from 16th – 18th June. The three-day event features live cooking demonstrations from top chefs drawn from the ranks of MasterChef, Great British Bake Off and Great British Menu, plus top-rated Michelin-starred and award-winning chefs. 

Star names appearing in the live cooking theatres include: Michael Caines MBE, acclaimed chef patron of Michelin-starred and 5 AA Rosette awarded Lympstone Manor. Michael has appeared regularly on television, on programmes such as BBC 1 Saturday Kitchen, MasterChef, Sunday Brunch, Great British Menu and Great British Bake Off. Also appearing, MasterChef: The Professionals 2022 finalist, Charlie Jeffreys, MasterChef: The Professionals star, Carla Jones, head chef from AA Rosette awarded and Michelin recommended The Seacliff, near Ilfracombe, Great British Menu finalist, Sam Lomas, head chef from Michelin recommended Glebe House in Southleigh and national TV and radio regular, author and reviewer, Orlando Murrin.

The musical feast is just as sumptuous with chart-topping disco diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor and noughties platinum-selling Brit Pop sensations Toploader

Sophie Ellis-Bextor said: “It’s wonderful to be joining the Foodies Festival tour again. Warm summer weekends full of lovely food and music, and families having fun together – I can’t wait!”

Showcasing the best of the South West, many highly acclaimed Michelin and multi-award-winning chefs will also appear, including: Mark Dodson, chef-patron of Michelin starred Mason Arms, in Knowstone, Jay Barker-Jones, chef-patron of Michelin recommended Dartmoor Inn, in Lydford, Robert Neil, from Michelin recommended The Pig at Combe in Honiton, Richard Hunt, executive chef from Courtyard by Marriot, in Exeter and founder of Devon Cookery School, Jazzi Curley.

New for Fridays: The festival launches ‘Cocktails, Cabaret and Cake’ – kicking off each weekend with a fun-fuelled schedule of events with a comprehensive selection of traditional and on-trend new cocktails to tempt the tastebuds, cocktail-making sessions with flamboyant mixologists and theatre shows. Including: entertaining cabaret sessions, top tribute acts and local performers, all headlined by ABBA tribute band, Bjorn to Be

Throughout the 3-day weekend, visitors will enjoy a jam-packed schedule of TV cooking show champions and award-winning chefs in the interactive live theatres. In the Chefs’ Theatre, celebrities will create their signature dishes and share new tips and tricks, whilst in the Cake & Bake Theatre, star bakers whip up showstoppers and offer tempting sweet treats. In The Kids Cookery School, Foodies SuperChefs make cooking fun, helping younger guests to prepare delicious food which they can take away and enjoy.

Masterclasses in the Drinks Theatre include tutored Champagne, Beer, Cider, Cocktail and Wine-tasting, including presentations from BBC expert Joe Wadsack and ITV’s Tom Surgey. Award-winning, SALSA accredited Salcombe Brewery Co will showcase the best of the South-West, with their range of premium cask ales which are brewed in the world famous Salcombe Estuary.

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 mouth-watering range of street food and delicacies from all four corners of the globe. Other attractions include a chilli eating competition, fairground, children’s activities, and family-friendly areas.

Director Sue Hitchen said: “Foodies Festivals are a celebration of amazing food, drink and entertainment and we are proud to support local artisan producers and restaurants. 

“We’ve all had a difficult few years, so to help keep things affordable festival prices have been frozen for the third year running – even though our stars and features get bigger and better every year. We offer a great value day out for families and friends.”  

For the fifth year running, the festival is supporting Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) with tickets raising money for UK-wide homelessness charity Crisis.

MAH founder Emma Rule said: “We are thrilled to be back at Foodies with our music stage and fantastic line-up of artists, raising much needed funds during these challenging times.”

Dates and tickets

• Escot Park, Ottery St Mary, Devon EX11 1LU
• 16th – 18th June 2023
• Day tickets from £3 (child) and £18 (adult)
• Weekend tickets from £38 (3-day)
• On sale now at www.foodiesfestival.com