THE BIGGEST FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL SERIES IN THE UK IS RETURNING TO OXFORD - WITH BIG TV AND MUSIC STARS!

FOODIES FESTIVAL – the biggest gourmet food, drink and music festival series in the UK – will be returning to Oxford on August Bank Holiday weekend, featuring MasterChef and Bake Off champions and chart-topping favourites Scouting For Girls and Toploader!

Award-winning chefs taking part in Foodies this summer, include: Tom Rhodes, MasterChef 2021 champion, Alex Webb, MasterChef: The Professionals champion, MasterChef 2021 finalist Laura Michael and 2020 MasterChef finalist Sandy Tang. Michelin starred restaurateurs Mike North from Nut Tree Inn and Nick Galer from The Miller of Mansfield will also be showing off their considerable talents.

Alex Webb, Masterchef: The Professionals champion 2020, is elated to be joining the series. He said: “I'm absolutely delighted to be touring around the country with Foodies Festivals this summer. I’ve been working on lots of delicious new recipes and I can’t wait to see you all in person and cook live on stage!"

The musical feast is just as sumptuous with platinum-selling chart-toppers Scouting For Girls performing their many crowd-pleasing hits, including, ‘She’s So Lovely’ ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’. Festival favourites Toploader will ensure that ‘Dancing In The Moonlight’ is on the menu and top-ranked Lady Gaga tribute act, Maybe Gaga, will bring to life the star’s biggest hits. Over fifty excellent bands and artists will take to the stage across the long weekend.

Scouting For Girls star Roy Stride said, “After a long, dismal year away from touring and seeing our fans, we’re all hugely excited to be playing Foodies Festival.

“It’s not just because we’ll finally be playing our favourite songs again to a real-life crowd as the sun sets on a perfect summer’s day out, it’s also the sense of liberation and relief that will come with the fest for everyone involved.

“The fact that we’ll all be able to sample an amazing smorgasbord of food and drink from around the world is another great bonus.”

Dan Hipgrave from Toploader said: “We are properly excited to be back performing at this years festival. It has been a few years since we last played at the excellent Foodies Festivals and we’re hungry just thinking about it! What more could a band want than a stage to perform on, awesome food and free flowing drinks in the sunshine. Bring it on and see you there!”

Foodies Festival began in 2004 and was rapidly dubbed the “gastro-Glastonbury”. The UK’s biggest food, drink and music event returns with a vengeance this Summer with Covid-safe events in ten British regions.

At the three-day festival, visitors can enjoy the Chefs Theatre, Cake & Bake Theatre, Drinks Theatre with wine, champagne, beer and cocktail making masterclasses, Shopping Village with award-winning artisan producers, Street Food Avenue, Kids Cookery School and live music stage. Other attractions include Foodies famous chilli eating competition and family friendly areas with activities for children.

Over 150 exhibitors will showcase their produce, providing festival-goers with a fantastic opportunity to sample the best of Oxford - and to try a huge selection of delicious food and drink from around the world.

Director Sue Hitchen said: I am so pleased that we are returning to Oxford this year, bringing top chefs to cook live and big name music acts to our stage.

“As we're outdoors and in local parks we are able to plan Covid safe festivals, and our experienced Health and Safety team are working closely with local councils across the country to make sure we take all appropriate measures and follow government guidelines to keep everyone safe.

“There has never been a better time to support local restaurants and food producers and we are all ready to enjoy a fun day out with friends.”

For the third year running, the festival is supporting Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) with tickets raising money for UK-wide homelessness charity Crisis.

MAH founder Emma Rule said: “The last year has been incredibly difficult for charities, we are so pleased to be back at Foodies with our music stage and brilliant artists, raising much needed funds.”