The Local Story Behind Abergavenny Food Festival
Beyond the Stalls
Every September, Abergavenny Food Festival transforms the town into a bustling food hub, filling its streets with local producers, live cooking, inspiring talks and thousands of people brought together by a shared love of food. Yet despite being one of the UK’s best-known food festivals, a few myths still linger.
The biggest? That it’s simply a food market.
In reality, it’s exactly what the name promises: a festival. Across the weekend, visitors can discover demonstrations, conversations, book signings, tastings and live cooking from some of the biggest names in food, alongside producers and independent businesses from the local area.
Another misconception is that the festival isn’t really for local people. In truth, it couldn’t exist without them!
More than 80% of producers come from Wales and the neighbouring border counties, and demand from local businesses has never been stronger, with trader applications increasing by 200%.
Behind the crowds and packed programme lies a festival that continues to invest in the place that gives it its home. More than 300 local people are employed during the festival weekend, while the event operates as a not-for-profit organisation, with every pound generated reinvested into securing its future. Even the income from festival car parks goes directly to local charities.
Of course, the festival also brings world-class names to our market town. Seafood expert Nathan Outlaw will share his passion for sustainably cooked fish, Double MasterChef champion Ping Coombes explores the traditions behind her new book Rice, Sabrina Ghayour celebrates vibrant Middle Eastern cooking with her bestseller Persiana, Richard Hammond discusses his new Ratio Gin, and Hereford favourites The Beefy Boys promise an entertaining live-fire cooking demonstration.
But that’s what makes Abergavenny Food Festival special. World-class chefs join the local community rather than replacing it. The festival shines a spotlight on Welsh & border county food, Welsh & border county producers and Welsh & border county hospitality while inviting visitors to discover what local people already know: Abergavenny is a town with an extraordinary food story to tell.
Whether you’re a regular or planning your first visit, this September is the perfect time to discover everything Abergavenny Food Festival has to offer, because Good Things Come To Those who Taste.
