Cornwall

Held on the gorgeous white sands of Porthminster Beach in St Ives, the St Ives Food &amp; Drink Festival is a must-do in the Cornish calendar particularly for foodies, families, and music lovers.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/St-Ives-Food-Festival-Caitlin-Mogridge-Photography-1000x666.jpeg" alt="St Ives Food Festival credit Caitlin Mogridge" class="wp-image-36819" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/St-Ives-Food-Festival-Caitlin-Mogridge-Photography-1000x666.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/St-Ives-Food-Festival-Caitlin-Mogridge-Photography-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/St-Ives-Food-Festival-Caitlin-Mogridge-Photography-768x511.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/St-Ives-Food-Festival-Caitlin-Mogridge-Photography.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



But where to start? Well, it just so happens, I can help with that with my insider picks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-the-chef-s-fire-pit-is-the-home-of-the-chef-demonstrations-at-st-ives-food-amp-drink-festival">1/ The Chef’s Fire Pit is the home of the <a href="https://stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk/chefs-demo-fire-pit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chef demonstrations</a> at St Ives Food &amp; Drink Festival</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="665" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/2022-St-Ives-Food-Festival-Saturday-LR-29-1000x665.jpeg" alt="St Ives Food Festival" class="wp-image-36841" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/2022-St-Ives-Food-Festival-Saturday-LR-29-1000x665.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/2022-St-Ives-Food-Festival-Saturday-LR-29-800x532.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/2022-St-Ives-Food-Festival-Saturday-LR-29-768x511.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/2022-St-Ives-Food-Festival-Saturday-LR-29.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Running all day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and free to watch, the Chef&#8217;s fire pit is where you want to head to see the demos and includes:



<ul>
<li>Ashley Palmer-Watts&nbsp;Co-founder of one of the UK’s biggest culinary success stories in 2024,&nbsp;The Devonshire, Soho</li>



<li>Tom Brown&nbsp;of the seafood sensation&nbsp;Pearly Queen&nbsp;in Shoreditch</li>



<li>Food writer and veg grower&nbsp;Kathy Slack</li>



<li>And Cornwall’s own&nbsp;Jude Kereama, of&nbsp;Kota &amp; Kota Kai,&nbsp;Dorian Janmaat&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ardor, a newly established gem in St Ives, and&nbsp;Ben Prior&nbsp;of&nbsp;Porthminster Beach Café.</li>
</ul>



Free!



You&#8217;ll find the Chef&#8217;s Fire Pit on the sand at Porthminster Beach. The lower half of the beach including Chefs Demos, Artisan Market and&nbsp;Community Tent close at 6pm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-don-t-miss-the-masterclasses">2 / Don&#8217;t miss the Masterclasses!</h2>



Running across all three days are all sorts of fun things to get involved with and learn something too. From hands-on cooking sessions with St Ives Cookery School to wild foraging adventures with Josh Quick, there’s something for every taste.



Wine lovers can explore fine rosés, vintage English wines, and exquisite Champagnes with expert Elly Owen and Sam Lindo. Plus, don’t miss beer tastings with St Ives Brewery and a spritz masterclass with Connie Glaze Vodka.



Masterclasses are £ and must be <a href="https://stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk/master-classes/">pre-booked</a>.



Masterclasses are held in various locations &#8211; check when you book &#8211; but all near to the beach, and it is advised to arrive 10 mins early!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-eat-at-the-food-village">3 / Eat at the Food Village</h2>



The St Ives Food Village is a space to spotlight some of the best local restaurants.



Each restaurant pop-up is offering 3 signature dishes as small plates at affordable prices, so that you can try a bit of everything.



Free to access, food £, priced affordably.



You&#8217;ll find the Food Village on the sand at Porthminster Beach.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-try-something-new-at-the-wellness-tent">4 / Try something new at the Wellness Tent</h2>



New to the festival this year, Mor Holan are offering an 8 person wood fired sauna, plus a 10 person sauna tent. Expect ice baths, cold water dip tanks, sauna rituals, sauna workshops and treatments, plus yoga, pilates, breath work, mindfulness, meditation and reflexology.



Wellness Tent sessions are £ and must be <a href="https://www.morholan.co.uk/booking/">pre-booked</a>.



The Wellness Tent is in the Wellness Section of the beach.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-check-out-the-community-tent">5 / Check out the Community Tent</h2>



Bringing together community organisations across St Ives and beyond drop by the Community Tent to discover something new. 



Free!



You&#8217;ll find the Community Tent on the sand at Porthminster Beach. The lower half of the beach including Chefs Demos, Artisan Market and&nbsp;Community Tent close at 6pm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-book-a-charity-feast-ticket-at-portminster-beach-cafe">6 / Book a Charity feast ticket at Portminster Beach Café</h2>



Porthminster Restaurant Feast tickets are available&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opentable.co.uk/r/porthminster-beach-cafe-st-ives" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>&nbsp; – in aid of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fishermensmission.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fishermen’s Mission</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.waveproject.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wave Project</a>. Choose from two experiences, Coast to Coast, and Beach to Beach, one running each night.



Feast experiences are £ and must be <a href="https://www.opentable.co.uk/r/porthminster-beach-cafe-st-ives">pre-booked</a>.



Feasts are at Porthminster Beach Café.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-evening-music-at-st-ives-food-amp-drink-festival-is-the-sunset-sessions">7/ Evening Music at St Ives Food &amp; Drink Festival is the Sunset Sessions</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="665" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/SIFF-2022-@reados-1000x665.jpg" alt="St Ives Food Festival Sunset Sessions" class="wp-image-36839" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/SIFF-2022-@reados-1000x665.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/SIFF-2022-@reados-800x532.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/SIFF-2022-@reados-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/SIFF-2022-@reados-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/SIFF-2022-@reados.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



New for 2025 is the&nbsp;<a href="https://stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk/sunset-sessions/">Sunset Sessions</a>&nbsp;– three nights of live music bringing big name artists to the beach. 2025’s Sunset Sessions feature Norman Jay MBE, Ferris &amp; Sylvester, Year of the Dog and The Scribes. These are ticketed events so you&#8217;ll need to book in advance (<a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/reader-treats/win-four-weekend-sunset-session-tickets-at-st-ives-food-festival/">or win entry to the Sunset Sessions here</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-8-leave-your-car-and-dog-at-home">8 / Leave your car (and dog) at home!</h2>



Head to Porthminster Beach, The Warren, St Ives Cornwall TR26 2EB 



Friday 16th May 11am – 11pm



Saturday 17th May 10am-11pm



Sunday 18th May 10am-10pm



What 3 Words: ///indicated.business.hurry 



Remember the beach is only accessible on foot and parking is hard to come by in St Ives. The station is just above the beach where you can get the branch line to St Erth (with parking). And remember registered guide dogs only for this one.



<a href="https://stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk/food-festival-2025/">St Ives Food &amp; Drink Festival</a>, Friday 16 &#8211; Sunday 18 May, Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2EB

What’s on at St Ives Food & Drink Festival 2025 this May?

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