Big Names, Beach Feasts and Ice Baths? What’s Happening at the St Ives Food & Drink Festival This May

A free beach festival with music, food and more – here’s what to expect

The UK’s only food festival held right on the sand is returning to Cornwall next month. From Friday 16th to Sunday 18th May 2025, St Ives Food & Drink Festival will once again take over Porthminster Beach with a refreshed programme full of flavour, music and wellness.

The popular free-to-attend event draws thousands every year and is a key part of Cornwall’s event calendar, supporting the local economy and showcasing both regional and national talent.

Star Chefs at the Fire Pit

This year’s Chef’s Fire Pit will welcome a host of well-known names from the UK culinary scene. Expect cooking demos from:

• Ashley Palmer-Watts, co-founder of The Devonshire, Soho

• Tom Brown, chef behind Shoreditch seafood restaurant Pearly Queen

• Kathy Slack, food writer and veg grower

• Jude Kereama, of Kota & Kota Kai in Cornwall

• Dorian Janmaat, of Ardor in St Ives

• Ben Prior, from Porthminster Beach Café

View the full chef line-up on the official website.

Hands-On Experiences & Tastings

Visitors can also take part in masterclasses covering everything from cooking to drinks:

• Jeffrey Robinson’s St Ives Cookery School will run interactive sessions

• Josh Quick will lead wild foraging adventures

• Elly Owen and Sam Lindo from Camel Valley will guide tastings of rosés, English wines and Champagne

• St Ives Brewery will host beer tastings

• A spritz masterclass will be delivered by Connie Glaze using sand-filtered vodka

Wellness on the Shoreline

New for 2025, festivalgoers can dive into a range of wellness sessions provided by local group Mor Holan. Activities include:

• Ice baths and cold-water dip tanks

• Sauna rituals, yoga, Pilates and breathwork

• Mindfulness, meditation, reflexology, and beach fitness

• Shoreline workshops and treatments

All set up right on the sands of Porthminster.

Live Music Takes Centre Stage

A new feature for 2025 is the launch of Sunset Sessions – ticketed evening performances bringing bigger names to the beach:

• Norman Jay MBE – Friday 16th May

• Ferris & Sylvester – Saturday 17th May

• The Scribes – Sunday 18th May

Tickets for Sunset Sessions are now available at stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk.

Opportunities for Young People

Thanks to community grant funding and support from St Ives Town Council, the festival is offering free cooking masterclasses for local school children aged 11-16. Led by Jeffrey Robinson, these sessions will teach pancake-making and how to prepare homemade chocolate sauce over an open fire on the beach.

The YONKERS youth team (Young Person in Cornish) will also be present in the Community Tent across the weekend, gathering input from local teens on how they use town spaces, and what events and opportunities they’d like to see next.

To find out more or stay updated, visit the official St Ives Food & Drink Festival website.