There’s plenty to look forward to at Valley Fest when it returns this August – with both the music and the food sure to impress in equal measures.
The festival, which takes place along the Chew Valley Lake from August 2nd to 4th, will be headlined by Basement Jaxx, Razorlight and Tom Odell, with the likes of Norman Jay MBE, The Magic Numbers and Leftfield (DJ set) adding to the mix.
But Valley Fest isn’t just about the music. It’s a festival with a strong food and drink focus, too, with something to suit all tastes.
Pony and Trap head chef, Josh Eggleton, and Root head chef, Rob Howell, will be at the helm on the Saturday, cooking up a six-course feast during both the afternoon and evening. On the Sunday, the Free Range Chef will serve up three courses of vegetarian sharing platters, with a fusion of flavours from Italy and the Middle East. And if you’re looking for a boozy brunch, then the Riverford Field Kitchen will have you covered on Saturday, and the Yeo Valley Canteen on Sunday.
Valley Fest is all about celebrating the South West’s food, as well as those who produce it. The majority of the fresh ingredients will come from The Community Farm, with the meat sourced from Luke’s farm on the very land on which the festival takes place, as well as Combe Farm, just down the road.
In the iconic tipis there will be tapas served all day, cooked up by Annie Coplestone and Carlotta Paolieri, who run The Monmouth Table. There will be an Artisan Market packed with goodies to take home (or eat there), along with cooking demonstrations from MasterChef quarter-finalist Hope Pointing, as well as local chef Elly Pear. And there will be enormous barbecues dishing up food for the masses too.
Talks on everything from veganism to body confidence, as well as workshops on pickling, foraging and gardening, are also planned, and there’ll also be tons of street food. And while Valley Fest is held on a beef farm, the organisers promise plenty of vegan options, as well as gluten-free dishes, too.
Valley Fest tickets are on sale now, priced at £125 (plus booking fee) for an adult ticket. And there are various different ticket types available, too – see them online here.