The award-winning Porthleven Food Festival – presented in partnership with renowned chef Jude Kereama – welcomed thousands of visitors over the weekend (April 26-28th) for three days of festival fun.
The sun shone as festival goers tucked into a into a full weekend of entertainment including brilliant chef demos, live music, family-friendly activities, evening sessions, feast nights, a new Comedy Roast with Johnny Cowling, plus much more.
The festival is an annual free foodie event – a must-visit in the culinary calendar – that’s a whole town takeover – designed to celebrate Cornwall’s leading food and drink producers, stimulate the local economy, and raise awareness of key issues relating to the environment, food culture and sustainable food production.
Offering an exceptional foodie experience, for residents and visitors alike, the festival’s Chef Theatre line-up this year was the best to date, showcasing talent from the top of the industry – including Jack Stein, Tom Brown, Ben Palmer, Kate Attlee, Paul Foster, Olivia Barry, Elly Wentworth, Mick Smith, and Hylton Espey, amongst others.
Rupert Cooper, of Philleigh Way Cookery School, for the second year running hosted two sold-out Feasts at The Net Loft on the Friday and Saturday evenings. On Sunday the Chef’s Theatre tent played host to a brand-new Comedy Roast pairing a delicious Sunday Roast dinner, also created by Rupert, with stand-up and a quiz hosted by Cornish comedians Johnny Cowling, Anna Kierle and Mimi – delivering a belly full of laughs!
The evening live music sessions, also didn’t disappoint, bringing a fun filled line-up of brilliant local bands for festival goers including 3 Daft Monkeys, Beans on Toast, UK Fleetwood Mac, Take a Chance on Us (Abba Tribute) – in addition to a full programme of free music available at the Shipyard Diner’s Club and the Lime Kiln stage.
Elsewhere on the festival site Ann’s Pasties hosted pasty making workshops, and the Food & Farmers Market offered delicious treats and shone a light of some of Cornwall’s brilliant local producers.
Alec Short, one of the Porthleven Food Festival organisers, says: “The 2024 festival was great fun, a big success, and there was an amazing atmosphere with everyone getting stuck into the variety of entertainment available over weekend.
Many local businesses have reported their best weekend of trading, with record sales thanks to the festival – which after a long, wet winter is a brilliant boost and an opportunity for people to discover the magic of Porthleven and what it offers year-round.
Huge thanks and appreciation to everyone who helps make the festival happen from the community, local businesses, Porthleven Town Council, our sponsors, and supporters. Until next year!”
The 2025 dates are yet to be announced but keep an eye on the festival’s website (www.porthlevenfoodfestival.com)and social media for all the latest news and information.
