Frequently Asked Questions

The festival takes place over the early May bank holiday weekend in 2027:

• Saturday 1st May 2027 — The Food Trail
• Sunday 2nd May 2027 — Market, cheese races and chefs live in Shaftesbury

On Sunday, the main festival is based across:

• Gold Hill
• Shaftesbury High Street
• Park Walk
• Town centre (SP7 8LY)

On Saturday, the Food Trail extends into the surrounding Dorset countryside, connecting farms, producers and makers.

• Shaftesbury town centre (High Street & Park Walk): SP7 8LY

Yes, the festival is free to attend, including the Street Market and the Live Action Kitchen demonstration sessions.

If any part of the 2027 programme needs booking in advance, we will say so on the relevant page as soon as details are confirmed.

The Food Trail (Saturday 1st May) is a free, self-guided experience taking visitors beyond the town into the Dorset landscape.

It offers behind-the-scenes access to producers, with tours, tastings, farm walks and demonstrations as doors open to show you what they do, where and how.

Confirmed locations so far: Gold Hill Organic Farm, Primrose Organic Produce, Dorset Blue Vinny, Madjeston Milk Station & Animal Park, Cann Mills, Breezy Ridge Vineyard and Sorelle Dorset, with more to be announced.

Sunday 2nd May is the main festival day in Shaftesbury:

• Street Market with over 120 stalls of local and global food, drink and crafts
• The famous Gold Hill cheese races
• Live Action Kitchen: top chefs cooking live in the historic town hall

One of the festival’s most iconic features. Competitors race up the steep cobbles of Gold Hill carrying a 23kg wheel of cheese, cheered on by crowds lining the route. It’s fast, funny, and very Dorset!

Details of how to enter the 2027 races will be announced on the Cheese Race page. You can watch for free.

Top chefs cook live from their latest books at free demonstration sessions in Shaftesbury’s historic town hall, hosted by destination bookshop The Kitchen Table. You can get up close to celebrated chefs, hear about their culinary journeys and get signed copies of their latest books.

Participating chefs will be announced early in 2027. Register for updates to hear first.

A large open-air market on Sunday featuring over 120 stalls across the High Street and Park Walk.

Expect:

• Dorset artisan producers
• Independent makers
• Global street food
• Sweet and savoury specialities

…and a strong focus on provenance, craft and quality.

Shaftesbury is well connected by road, rail and bus. The nearest train stations are Gillingham (8 miles) and Tisbury (10 miles), and local buses run into town from across the region. See the Getting Here page for full details.

Town-centre parking in Shaftesbury is limited on festival day. Please car-share where possible and allow extra time. Use postcode SP7 8JY for the High Street.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome, particularly in outdoor areas. Please be mindful of crowds and hot surfaces when planning your visit.

Full timings for the Food Trail and for Sunday will be announced nearer the time. The Gold Hill cheese races run from around 10am to 3pm on Sunday 2nd May.

You do not need to book to visit the Street Market or to watch the cheese races.

If entering the cheese races, or any part of the 2027 programme, needs booking, we will say so on the relevant page and by email to anyone registered for updates.

The festival takes place across historic streets, including some steep and uneven areas such as the cobblestones of Gold Hill.

Accessibility support is considered across the site, but visitors with specific needs are encouraged to plan ahead or contact the organisers for advice before attending: hello@shaftesbury-food-festival.co.uk.

Shaftesbury Food Festival is run on a not-for-profit basis by a small team of volunteers with the backing of the Shaftesbury & District Chamber of Commerce, with support from Shaftesbury Town Council and The Kitchen Table Dorset.

The festival runs in all weather conditions. Many activities are outdoors, so we recommend dressing appropriately for the British spring weather and checking the forecast in advance.

Yes — expressions of interest are now open for the next festival on Sunday 2nd May 2027. The Street Market features over 120 stalls and they fill up quickly.

Pitch fees are a flat rate for every trader: £50 for a single 3m pitch, or £100 for two 3m pitches side by side.

Register your interest at shaftesbury-food-festival.co.uk/trade-stands.

Yes. The Food Trail is a relaxed, exploratory experience that works beautifully for families, with farm visits, tastings and hands-on encounters with producers. As many locations are working farms, visitors are asked to take sensible care and follow on-site guidance at all times.