The Great British Food Festival returns to Harewood House this May Bank Holiday

The Great British Food Festival is returning to the stunning Harewood House this May Bank Holiday 2026 – bigger and better than ever before for their 16th year.

From Saturday 23rd May to Monday 25th May, The Great British Food Festival will be back, featuring a revamped line-up packed with entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

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With chef demonstrations and talks, delicious street food, and live music, alongside a dedicated kids’ stage, foraging walks, and floristry masterclasses, there really is something for everyone. There’s even a woof zone with activities for our four-legged friends.

Located in the iconic grounds of Harewood House, just outside of Leeds, every corner is planned to be packed with entertainment and street food vendors, including Ey Up Thai, who’ll be serving up classic green curries, corn fritters and drunken noodles. 

Amongst the festival, their artisan market is a great way to discover new and local producers who’ll be sharing the very best of what Yorkshire has to offer.

West Yorkshire-based cheesemongers Cryer and Stott are new this year and will be selling their impressive selection of cheese. Working with British producers, they create some of their own recipes, such as Rhuby Crumble, a Wensleydale blended with Yorkshire forced rhubarb and a hint of vanilla.  

With different stages around the site, the programme will see non-stop activity with opportunities for you to take part in the challenges, including Beat the Chef and the Cake Off. 

Yorkshire-based Sandy Docherty, who spent time in the Great British Bake Off tent in 2015, will be live on the Headline stage. Sandy is now a safeguarding officer at a school in Yorkshire, where she runs a cookery club teaching children to bake on a budget. 

Sandy says: “I like to show ways that you can still make something very special, but really use the ingredients you have. It is about taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. You could make a casserole one night, and then with what is left, you can add pastry, and you have a pie.  

“I will be hosting a cooking demonstration, showing you how to make two kinds of desserts – crepe suzette and a steamed sticky toffee pudding with a caramel sauce. I’ll be showing people how they can adapt recipes, so you could change the crepe suzette into chocolate pancakes and add cherries and transform it.” 

The Headline stage will also have Masterchef semi-finalist and Harrogate local Olayemi Adelekan, known as Yemi, demonstrating dishes such as Istanbul-inspired spiced potatoes on a bed of labneh with flaked salmon. 

Over the weekend, you’ll also be able to take part in foraging whilst exploring the magnificent Harewood estate. The woodland at Harewood House is a great location to get to know some key species and learn about foraging both sustainably and safely.

Elliot Nicholls of Leeds-based Forage Against the Machine will be teaching participants how to identify dangerous species as well as those that are beneficial nutritionally, medicinally and in a culinary sense. 

Janine Maycock, Great British Food Festival founder, says: “Come for the food and stay for the fun, leave inspired. That is our message. Harewood House is such a wonderful setting. We really feel that this is the best way to get together with friends and family and have a wonderful day out this summer. 

“With a huge range of bars and street food stalls selling a variety of delicious global dishes, it is a treat. We’ve revamped the stages this year, which means there will always be something on and there are lots of interactive challenges like Beat the Chef.” 

Overseeing the event is Chris Bavin, a cookbook author with extensive experience in the fresh produce industry. He founded The Naked Grocer, a pioneering no-plastic retail business, and is a familiar face from BBC shows like Eat Well for Less and Best Home Cook.

Chris says: “I’m really looking forward to hosting the Great British Food Festival. There’s a lot going on so I’m going to be busy, but meeting people and enjoying great food and drink in a beautiful setting feels like an ideal way to spend the day.” 

Live music will be performed throughout the weekend from a diverse range of artists, including Gina Larner, Groovy Revolution and DRS. What’s more, the event is dog-friendly, so there’s no need to rush back home. 

If this sounds like the perfect recipe for a fun, foodie day out where the whole family can get together, you can find more details and tickets for the Great British Food Festival at Harewood House here.