Crowds flock to Bishop Auckland for 2026 Food Festival
Organisers of this year's Bishop Auckland food festival are hailing it a great success - as thousands of visitors flocked to the town over the weekend.
Organisers of this year's Bishop Auckland food festival are hailing it a great success - as thousands of visitors flocked to the town over the weekend.
The free-to-attend event took place Saturday and Sunday 18 and 19 April and saw crowds flocking into the town’s Market Place both days.
Festival-goers enjoyed cookery demonstrations that made stomachs rumble both days, from TV chefs including Phil Vickery.
They also treated themselves to all manner of cuisine from more than 150 traders.
Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: “We are absolutely delighted at how Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 panned out, if you’ll excuse the pun!
“It was brilliant to see so many people coming out with their families and friends and really enjoying everything our festival had to offer. The cookery demonstrations put on by Phil Vickery and our other guests certainly put smiles on faces and the mouth-watering dishes our 150 plus traders served up, seemed to go down a treat.
“It’s great that the festival supports businesses, both those at the event and those in Bishop Auckland, which we hope will notice an increase in takings with so many people coming into the town centre over the weekend.”
Saturday festival-goers were treated to expert demonstrations by Phil Vickery; as well as Shivi Ramatour, star of Jimmy and Shivi’s Farmhouse Breakfast; and finalist from 2025 Great British Bake-Off, Aaron Mountford-Myles.
On Sunday, there was more top class cooking on show from Briony May Williams, previous Bake-Off contestant and now presenter of Escape To The Country; last year’s Bake-Off winner Jasmine Mitchell and Lumberjaxe, who came to the nation’s attention when securing investment on Dragon’s Den.
All were joined on stage by festival host Chris Bavin, himself a veteran of many TV shows, including co-presenting Eat Well for Less?
Fans of chocolate were in seventh heaven, thanks to workshops with chocolatier Paul A Young.
Paul, who was raised in County Durham, laid on Perfect Truffles Masterclasses and Adventures with Chocolate sessions, both days.
New for 2026, the festival also hosted Cookery School, which allowed children aged five to 11 to take inspiration from the professionals and try their hand in the kitchen. The free hands-on sessions were led by Consett based cooking school Creative Kitchen and sponsored by Bishop Auckland Town Council.