Good food goes hand-in-hand with holidays, so how better to tuck into the taste of a destination than at a food festival? As long as your dog doesn’t snaffle the sausages off the counter and loves to socialise, no doubt you’ll both love the sensory experience of a buzzing ambience filled with aromas, flavours and fiesta vibes. Many of Britain’s food festivals even have stalls dedicated to doggie treats, too.
Not all food festivals welcome Fido, but here are some of the amazing UK festivals that provide a pooch-friendly platter of food and entertainment.
UPDATED: 24 February 2025
Muncaster Sausage Festival
3-5 May 2025
Muncaster Castle, Lake District
Cumbria’s Muncaster Sausage Festival is one foodie festival that does welcome your dog to snaffle up the sausages. As well as lots of sausages for your dogs to sample, sausage makers from across the land gather in the grounds of Muncaster Castle in the hope of being crowned Sausage Champion of the year. Taking place in the heart of the dog-friendly Lake District, there’s plenty for the whole family to get stuck into, with demos, tastings, food and drink stalls, music, and even a bangers and dash obstacle race and sausage dog competition.
Ballycastle Seafront Artisan Market
May 2025 (dates tbc)
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast is a delightful destination for a holiday with your dog, and if you visit in spring, you can schedule in this delectable day out near Ballycastle Beach. The flagship artisan market in the region, it’s an authentic and lively showcase of local food, culture, heritage and traditions. Meet some of Northern Ireland’s producers and creative small businesses, learn about the provenance of the finest local food, and indulge in exquisite, handcrafted, artistic and tasty creations.
Cornwall Street Food Festival
May 2025 (dates tbc)
Newquay, Cornwall
Newquay is one of the most dog-friendly towns in Cornwall, with miles of sandy shoreline where dogs are welcome all year round. So where better to go for a flourishing family and dog-friendly food festival held in a clifftop site overlooking the sea? Bringing together the flavours of Cornwall in a buzzing street food festival, once you’ve filled up on chocolate-dipped churros and sizzling seafood, it’s up to you whether you hit the coast path or the beaches for your waggy-tailed walkies.
Foodies Festival
Various dates from May to August at venues across the UK
The mighty Foodies Festivals take place in multiple locations across the UK, from Brighton to Bath, and Glasgow to Edinburgh. It’s not often you can combine culinary tips from the nation’s top chefs, live music and fun family activities with a dog-friendly festival setting. And while your dog won’t have the big band performances on their holiday wishlist, they will love sampling the foodie delights and dog-friendly treats.
Swanage Fish and Food Festival
21-25 June 2025, Dorset
Make the most of the coastal and countryside dog walks on Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck while enjoying a weekend of sumptuous food, fishy crafts and entertainment. The 10th anniversary of this tasty celebration overlooking Swanage Bay sees the launch of a brand new artisan tent, alongside the usual cooking tips from top chefs, platters of fresh seafood and champagne, and a dedicated family entertainment area. Dogs must remain on leads in the festival site. Stay nearby in one of our dog-friendly cottages in Dorset.
Chatsworth Country Fair
29-31 August 2025
Chatsworth House, Peak District
There aren’t many events where cooking classes, rural crafts and big ring entertainment take place alongside have-a-go dog races, agility courses and canine competitions. And while this huge annual fair is so much more than a smorgasbord of food and entertainment, its three days packed with flavour, activities and fairground fun, firmly include your four-legged friends at the heart of the action. Combine this festival with a visit to the grounds of Chatsworth House itself, one of the best attractions to visit on a dog-friendly holiday in the Peak District.
North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival
30-31 August 2025
Holkham Hall, Norfolk
After working up an appetite playing with your pup on the sandy expanse of Holkham Bay (taking care to keep them on a lead in the restricted shorebird breeding zones between 1 April and 31 August), fuel up on the finest local foods at this gourmet gathering in the beautiful walled gardens at Holkham Hall. Sheltered from the elements within grand flint and brick walls, you can tuck into a dazzling array of delicious local fare from artisan food and drink producers who grow, rear and produce delights in Norfolk. All the foodie fun comes with a huge helping of musical accompaniment, cookery workshops and kids’ entertainment, too.
Great British Food Festival
6-7 September, Margam Park, South Wales
Plus various dates from May to August across the UK, including Herts, Wiltshire Yorkshire & Cheshire
The perfect day out for foodies and their four-legged friends, the Great British Food Festival lays on a platter of street food, artisan stalls, wine masterclasses, food demo stages and family fun. The festival organisers are dog lovers themselves and welcome dogs on leads, with water bowls at the ready and doggie treats on sale. Choose a holiday home near one of the festival venues for an indulgent day out on your dog-friendly break.
Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival
6-7 September 2025
Loch Lomond Shores, Nr Glasgow
Work up an appetite on waterside walkies, then soak up the stunning views of Loch Lomond at this annual festival celebrating the delicious Scottish food and drink scene. Some of the best seafood in the world is caught from the local waters, and after masterclasses with the region’s top chefs, you’ll be ready to take your basketfuls of fresh local produce back to your dog-friendly holiday home and rustle up a feast of your own.
Book Your Dog Friendly Holiday Cottage
Peckish for a platter of fine food, scenery and family entertainment with your four-legged friend? Check out our collection of dog-friendly accommodation and fill yourself to the gills at some of Britain’s best dog-friendly food festivals.
