Everything We’re Eating At Tideswell Food Festival 2026
- Jen Bell I Editor I Good Life List Peak District
- Apr 26
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 29
Some food festivals you wander around and see what takes your fancy.
Tideswell Food Festival is not one of them.
The ever-popular festival returns on Saturday 2 May (10am–4pm), with more than 50 stalls lining the historic streets of Tideswell. It’s grown steadily since it began in 2011, and what started as a celebration of local food has become one of the Peak District’s standout days out.
Alongside the food, you’ll find live music, street entertainment and a proper community feel running through the whole event. It’s busy, vibrant and just the right side of chaotic.
This is a day to arrive hungry, have a loose plan, and then happily abandon it somewhere between your first coffee, second pastry and something you absolutely didn’t intend to eat but couldn’t resist.
Here’s everything we’ve got our eye on this year - and how we’re actually planning on doing the day.
Update: the weather forecast for this weekend is fairly warm (17 degrees) with some sun and cloud - doesn't look like there will be a spot of rain. Ideal for wandering around a food festival. Hurrah!
How to do the day properly
If you want to make the most of Tideswell Food Festival, a little bit of structure goes a long way.
Morning: coffee, pastries and a wander
Arrive early, before the queues build and while everything still feels fairly relaxed. Start with a real coffee from Peaky Grinders or Ground Effect Coffee Roasters, then head straight to the bakeries while everything is still fully stocked and at its best.
This is the time to wander slowly, get your bearings and make a mental note of where you’ll want to come back to later.
Lunch: go all in
By late morning, the festival is in full swing. We usually go for something bold and satisfying - Cyprus Kouzina, Caribbean Fusion or Sizzlers Prime Meat are all strong choices.
Add something on the side (a scotch egg is rarely a bad idea, in our book), and don’t overthink it (definitely don't tot up the calories). This is not the moment to hold back.
Afternoon: graze and slow down
After lunch, the pace shifts slightly.
This is when you revisit stalls, pick up something sweet, grab another coffee and actually take in the setting - music drifting through the streets, people perched on walls and benches, and that slightly unhurried festival atmosphere.
Before you leave: stock up
Don’t leave this until the very end!
If there’s something you know you want - bread, cheese, preserves or a bottle - go back and get it. The best things rarely last all day and you'll kick yourself if you miss out.
The bakeries (come early, or miss out)
The baking at Tideswell is always one of the highlights, and it’s where we’ll start this weekend.
Zadie Bakery (Buxton)
Zadie have built a loyal following locally, and once you see their stall, it’s easy to understand why. Everything is beautifully presented, from generous slices of cake to more refined bakes. The flavours tend to be indulgent but balanced, and there’s a sense that everything has been made with care rather than speed.
Bree’osh - The Scandinavian Bakery
A different offering to the others and one we’ll be making a point of visiting. Their Scandinavian pastries are light, layered and delicately flavoured, with a focus on technique.
Ronnie’s Kitchen
A true sourdough micro-bakery built around time and process. Every loaf is slow-fermented over 24 hours using organic British flour, resulting in bread with real depth of flavour and structure. The bread feels substantial, keeps well and makes everything you eat with it better.
Forge Bakehouse (Sheffield)
A firm favourite across the region and always one of the busiest stalls. Their pastries are consistently excellent - flaky croissants, rich custard tarts and their much-loved maple pecan swirl. Everything feels generous without being heavy, and it’s very easy to justify joining the queue.
Barratt’s Bakery
Rooted in tradition. Fresh oatcakes and pikelets made using long-standing recipes, with a focus on simple ingredients and proper technique. It’s nostalgic, local and the oatcakes are absolutely brilliant with eggs, bacon or (and!) cheese.
The main event
Our picks for lunch:
Cyprus Kouzina
One of those stalls that draws you in before you even see it. The smell of grilled meats and warm spices carries across the festival, and the food delivers on that promise. Expect loaded gyros, golden halloumi fries, soft pittas and generous portions. It’s vibrant, flavour-packed and perfect for sharing - although you may not want to...
Staffordshire Savoury Scotch Eggs
These are unlike anything you’ll find in a pub or the local supermarket. Handmade, generously filled and available in a range of flavours, they manage to be both comforting and slightly indulgent. Crisp on the outside, rich in the middle and very moreish.
Caribbean Fusion
Bringing something altogether bolder to the mix, a lot of people have told us this is their favourite stall at Tideswell. Think smoky jerk chicken, rich curries and layers of spice that build as you eat. It adds colour, energy and a bit of heat to the day - exactly what you want at a festival.
Sizzlers Prime Meat
A small, family-run business focusing on quality British meat, including rare breeds and game. Their sausages and burgers are properly meaty, well seasoned and a clear step up from typical festival food. Hearty, straightforward and very satisfying.
Fiery Dough Pizza / Proove Pizza
Between them, you’re covered for awesome pizza. Hand-stretched dough, blistered crusts and simple toppings done well. It’s the kind of food that always works - easy to eat, easy to share and very, very good.
Coffee stops
You’ll need at least one, probably two.
Peaky Grinders
Fast, friendly and consistently good. This is your reliable first coffee of the day - strong, well-made and exactly what you need to get going.
Ground Effect Coffee Roasters (Bakewell)
This is also worth seeking out. Their beans are carefully sourced and hand-roasted, with flavour profiles that go beyond the standard.
The sweet things
This is where all good intentions tend to disappear. That diet can start tomorrow, right?
Yee Kwan Ice Cream
A more adventurous take on ice cream, with flavours like matcha, black sesame and chocolate miso alongside the classics. It’s interesting without being gimmicky, and a good option if you want something a little different. Which we usually do.
Fennell’s
Small-batch, seasonal and refined. Their flavours are often creative, sometimes incorporating foraged ingredients, but always feel balanced and well put together.
Cescas Cake Co / Scrumptious by Lucy / Brownies & Bruffles
If you’re in the mood for something unapologetically indulgent, this is where to head. Brownies, blondies, fudge and hybrid creations that are rich, gooey and very hard to resist.
What we’re taking home
Arguably the best part of the day.
Blueberry Hill Preserves
A generous range of curds, jams and savoury preserves, alongside cheese. The flavours are bold and well-balanced, and you’ll usually find something you didn’t know you needed.
Mouse House Cheese
Instantly recognisable by their colourful wax-coated truckles. The range is extensive, from classic combinations to more unusual flavours, and it’s one of those stalls where part of the fun is taking your time choosing.
Hogg Norton (Chesterfield)
A standout local producer making fruit liqueurs in small batches using ingredients sourced close to home. The flavours are vibrant and natural, and it’s something a little different to take home.
Snap, Crackle & Hog
Pork scratchings done oh so well. Crisp, flavourful and dangerously moreish - the kind of thing you start eating on the way home. Even if you think you're not a fan of scratchings, you'll probably like these.
Good to know before you go
Tideswell Food Festival is free to enter, and so is the parking - which is worth knowing in the Peak District (easy parking is not always a given).
Free parking is available near Anchor Crossroads and in a field off Whitecross Road (postcode SK17 8PY), with a local farmer kindly giving over land for the day. It’s managed by the local Scouts, with donations welcome.
The festival runs throughout the village, with stalls set around the stunning St John the Baptist Church Tideswell - often referred to as the “Cathedral of the Peak” - which also hosts the Makers’ Market.
Alongside the food, you’ll find live music, local performers, and more. It goes far beyond being just another food event and we can't wait to return this long weekend.
For the full list of traders and event details, visit the official festival website.
Final thoughts
What makes Tideswell Food Festival so good isn’t just the food - it’s the feeling of it.
You arrive with a vague plan, spend hours eating and wandering, discover things you didn’t expect, and leave with bags full of things you’ll still be talking about weeks later.
Go early, go hungry, and don’t try to be too sensible about it.
