FOODIES FESTIVAL – the UK’s biggest touring celebrity food and music festival series – announces a spectacular first time visit to Guildford!

FOODIES FESTIVAL will visit Stoke Park, Guildford, from 30th August – 1st September 2024, serving up a star-studded line-up of celebrity and award-winning local chefs, and chart-topping music stars, including: Blue, Sister Sledge and the exhilarating Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra with live vocals and DJ.

Known as Gastro-Glastonbury, the three-day event will feature live cooking demonstrations from TV celebrities and chefs drawn from the ranks of MasterChef, Great British Bake Off and Great British Menu.

Early announcements, include: MasterChef champions, Tom Rhodes and Dhruv Baker, MasterChef: The Professionals champion, Alex Webb, Channel 5 and BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter, Sian Anderson, Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch bread expert, Jack Sturgess, Channel 4 Beat The Chef, MasterChef contestant and author, Yui Miles and ITV This Morning wine experts, Tom Surgey and Joe Wadsack.

Alex Webb, said: “I'm really looking forward to the Foodies Festival tour, it’s my 3rd year in a row, and I’m glad to be returning! I can’t wait to celebrate the local food and drink in the region. I’ll be cooking some of my favourite dishes, such as Lobster Toast and Chilli Jam, as well as some classics from MasterChef!” Duncan James from Blue, said: “We’re all looking forward to joining the Foodies Festival tour again this year. The crowd is always buzzing and up for a great day and night out! A definite highlight is the lovely food from around the world. We’ve enjoyed some amazing dishes on previous visits and can’t wait to try some more!”

Showcasing the best of Surrey and beyond, many of the region’s most-highly acclaimed Michelin and multi-award-winning chefs will also appear, including: Chef-Patron, Steve Drake, from Michelin-starred and 4AA Rosette awarded Sorrel, Dorking, Executive Chef, Alex Payne, from Michelin-starred and 3AA Rosette awarded The Tudor Pass, Great Fosters, and Chef-Patron, Ben Piette, from Michelin recommended Maison, Wrecclesham.

Steve Drake from Sorrel, said: “I’m thrilled to be cooking at this years Foodies Festival in my home county of Surrey. It’s a stunning event and I can’t wait to showcase some of the dishes from my restaurant"

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, chefs will create their signature dishes and share new tips and tricks, whilst in the Cake & Desserts Theatre, patisserie chefs and star bakers whip up showstoppers and offer tempting sweet treats.

In the Kids Cookery School, Foodies Super Chefs make cooking fun, helping younger guests to prepare delicious food that they can take away and enjoy. Masterclasses in the Drinks Theatre include tutored Champagne, Beer, Cider, Cocktail and Wine-tasting - presenters include BBC, ITV and Channel 4 drinks experts as well as local favourites.

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.

Friday Fiesta: the festival presents family-friendly entertainment features taking place throughout the live theatres and extended opening hours until 10pm. As the sun goes down, the legendary Symphonic Ibiza will present an unforgettable fusion of dance anthems, live vocals, a sensational DJ and an exhilarating live orchestra. Created by dynamic producer and DJ Andy Joyce (Pacha, Amnesia, Eden, Cafe Mambo) and accomplished composer and musical director Steve Etherington.

Other exciting attractions and experiences include: TV Chef battles, Fire Pit Stage, Cook School with experts, Silent Disco, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Chilli Eating competitions featuring the current world champion, fairground rides, walk about artists, drum troops, choirs, children’s activities, and family-friendly areas. Throughout the weekend, the Music Stage presents a summer soundtrack of chart- topping artists, top tribute acts, covers bands and superb local bands. Director Sue Hitchen said: “We are thrilled to bring our celebration of amazing food, drink and entertainment to Surrey, and we are proud to support local artisan producers and restaurants. We very much look forward to welcoming the community.” For the fifth year running, the festival is supporting Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) with tickets helping to raise money for UK-wide homelessness charity Crisis.

Dates and tickets Stoke Park, Guildford 30th, 31st August, 1st September 2024

Day tickets from £4 (child) and £21 (adult). Under 6 go free Weekend tickets from £42 (3-day)

On sale now at www.foodiesfestival.com

*Entry to all theatres is included in the ticket price

FOODIES in FIGURES The festival will visit 14 regions across 42 dates in 2024 Over 600 live theatre demonstrations will take place across the series, featuring celebrity and Michelin chefs, star bakers and highly acclaimed local restaurants. There will be more than 400 music performances from headline artists and exciting local and UK touring acts on the Musicians Against Homelessness stage. And 2000 artisan producers, exhibitors and street food vendors will be involved across the series.

Daily Telegraph: “A day of great taste, socialising and indulgence” Guardian: “High profile festivals, each with its own distinct accent” Evening Standard: “Foodies Festival is not the biggest in the game for nothing, expect a packed itinerary of cooking masterclasses from what appears to be every MasterChef and Great British Menu winner that ever existed to live music from a roster of throwback hit makers.” Time Out: “Listen. We all love food. We all love music. Foodies festival brings both together in a bumper programme of eating, drinking, and food-inspired entertainment – and boy, does it sound tasty." Grazia: “A jumping mix of fabulous food and music”

About Foodies Festival Foodies Festival launched in 2005 as a single event and is now the largest food and drink festival in the UK. To date, Foodies has welcomed over 3 million visitors, helped launch hundreds of new businesses and supported thousands of small producers. Foodies Festival proudly celebrates local produce in each festival region and showcases the most exciting and talented chefs, bakers and producers in the UK.

About Musicians Against Homelessness For the fifth year running, the festival is supporting Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) with tickets raising money for UK-wide homelessness charity Crisis. Since 2016 MAH have hosted gigs and festivals in local pubs, music venues and community spaces featuring 1000s of fantastic bands and artists who have kindly performed across the UK. This award winning not for profit organisation has raised close to £400,000 for homelessness services. Around 400 superb headliners and local artists will perform on the MAH main stage at Foodies Festivals in 2024, helping to support the national homelessness charity Crisis.