CHECK OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THIS YEARS FESTIVAL
A weekend of incredible TV chef demonstrations, regional food & drink traders & local entertainers...
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Who is appearing at our live cookery theatre stage this year.
Take a look at our exciting celebrity chefs who will be making star appearances at the festival this year. A stella line up for Saturday guests are Phil Vickery – Chef, TV Presenter and Cookery Book Author, Shivi Ramoutar – Chef, TV Presenter and Author, GBBO Finalist – Aaron Mountford Myles and our fabulous Weekend Cookery Theatre Host – Chris Bavin – TV Chef & Author. Our Sunday line up is equally as amazing with 2025 GBBO Champion – Jasmine Mitchell, Baker and TV Presenter, Briony May Williams and Dragons Den 2025, Business Owners and Fire BBQ Experts, LumbeJaxe.
Our Cultural Programme of Walkabouts & Live Music for 2026 - let us entertain you!
Step into a weekend of lively encounters and unexpected delights with our Cultural programme, where the streets and historic spaces of Bishop Auckland come alive with colour, music and mischief. From roaming street performers and eccentric characters to engaging circus, theatre and spontaneous musical moments, there’s always something just around the corner to surprise and entertain. Alongside the walkabouts, enjoy a vibrant line-up of live music and hands-on arts and crafts activities in the Palace grounds, making this a festival full of creativity, community spirit and plenty of reasons to pause, watch, listen and join in.
Chocolate Masterclasses with award-winning British chocolatier, pâtissier, and television personality Paul A.Young.
Create indulgent hand-rolled chocolate truffles or go on a chocolate adventure with Paul in his hands-on masterclasses at Bishop Auckland Town Hall.
FREE Kids’ hands on cookery sessions presented by
Located at the Creative Kitchen tent in the Market Place. Bring your little chefs along for a weekend of delicious creativity at our Creative Kitchen Workshops! Packed with fun, hands-on activities, these sessions give children the chance to roll, mix, decorate and explore a variety of tasty treats.
Live music and performances from some of the region’s finest. The 2025 festival is now closed.
Take a look at our amazing line up who joined us at the festival. Dancing ‘grannies’, Lollipop ladies, steel bands, and theatre acts were among the free family acts performing at the festival.
The Auckland Project
Check out the programming that took place during the Bishop Auckland Food Festival weekend by The Auckland Project – including Seed Busters, Walled Garden Talks, Weardale Train, The Welcome Tower and more…
