Looe Food & Drink Festival Returns for a Flavour-Packed 2026 Celebration

Looe Food & Drink Festival is set to return to East Looe Quayside on Sunday 14th June 2026, bringing another vibrant celebration of Cornwall’s exceptional food and drink scene to the picturesque harbour town.

Supported by Sharp’s, The Sardine Factory Restaurant, Cornish Collection and Reach The Sea, the one-day, free-to-attend festival promises its biggest and most exciting line-up yet.

Centred around the Chef’s Demonstration Stage on Buller Quay, the festival will once again be curated by acclaimed local restaurateur and TV personality Ben Palmer. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy live cooking demonstrations from some of the South West’s most celebrated chefs, alongside opportunities to sample and purchase produce from an array of artisan food and drink stalls featuring local farmers, makers and producers.

Festivalgoers will also be able to enjoy the very best of Cornish beer and cider from longstanding festival supporter Sharp’s, including the favourite cask ale Doom Bar, alongside  Offshore and Cold River Cider.

Looe Food & Drink Festival is organised by local volunteers and the festival theatre and events on Buller Quay will again be completely free of charge, making it all an affordable day out for local residents and holidaymakers alike. 

This year’s chef demonstration line-up is the festival’s strongest yet. Joining Festival Chef Director Ben Palmer on the stage will be TV chef James Strawbridge, Jude Kereama (Kota and Kota Kai), Chris Eden (Executive Head Chef at Watergate Bay), Stephane Delourme (formerly Rick Stein’s Head Chef), Nikos Oikonomopoulos (Chef and Co-owner of YAMAS) and Charlie Walters (Chef Owner of Narla), all hosted and compered by Ed Hughes and Sam Lyne, Sharp’s Beer Sommeliers, with additional names and timings to be announced in the coming weeks.

The chef demonstrations will once again be co-hosted by Ben Palmer and Ed Hughes, bringing together outstanding culinary talent with expertly paired beers and drinks in front of the quayside crowd.

Alongside the chef stage, Buller Quay and the surrounding harbour will come alive with artisan traders, local street food, independent drinks producers and live entertainment, helping to showcase the unique atmosphere, creativity and hospitality that make Looe one of Cornwall’s most exciting foodie destinations. Amongst others, these include Cornish Sea Salt, Cornish Cheese Company, Cornish Chillies, Cornish Gouda, Sarah’s Cake Shop, Crepe Cornwall, Big Pan Parties and Mor Street Food.  

Surrounding events will also include the intriguing Grape Vs Grain feasting ‘contest’ that will take place at The Sardine Factory on the eve of the Festival – Saturday 13^th June.  Hosted by Sharp’s Beer Sommelier Ed Hughes and Ffion Evans of Molson Coors, this special dinner will see bespoke beer pairings being tested against traditional wine pairings, all accompanying a six-course tasting dinner, masterminded by Ben Palmer.  Grape Vs Grain events always sell out quickly so it’s recommended that interested parties contact The Sardine Factory as soon as possible to book. Other bars, cafes and restaurants around the double-harboured town of Looe are also expected to announce special events and menus in support of the Festival itself. 

Ben Palmer of The Sardine Factory and YAMAS says, “This is my home town and like everyone who is either from here, or who lives here, I know what an incredible location Looe is.  This festival is an opportunity to celebrate not only the incredible food and drink culture we have here in Cornwall, but also the amazing community spirit that makes this town so special. We are incredibly excited about the chef line-up and all the brilliant local producers joining us this June.”

Sharp’s Beer Sommelier Ed Hughes says, “Looe Food & Drink Festival has quickly become one of the highlights of the Cornish food calendar and we’re delighted to once again be supporting such a fantastic event. Bringing together talented chefs, passionate producers and great local drinks in such a stunning harbourside setting creates a brilliant atmosphere for everyone involved. We can’t wait to return to Buller Quay this summer.”

Festivalgoers are encouraged to make a full weekend of their visit and experience everything Looe has to offer. Festival accommodation partner Cornish Collection offers one of the largest selections of self-catering holiday properties in the area and has a handful of lovely properties available for the festival weekend. Check out the options at www.cornishcollection.co.uk

Further announcements regarding additional chef appearances, entertainment and festival vendors will be made over the coming weeks. For the latest updates, visit www.looefoodanddrinkfest.com or follow @LooeFoodAndDrinkFest on Instagram.