Festival of Food

Visitors to the 2026 Newport Show can look forward to an unforgettable Festival of Food area – a vibrant mini-festival experience packed into one fantastic day out and offering exceptional value for money.

Food lovers will be spoilt for choice with a wide range of street food, serving up delicious, finger-licking dishes alongside artisan treats and gourmet goodies to take home.

A major highlight of the Festival of Food will be the Cookery Theatre, featuring an exciting programme of demonstrations from well-known culinary names. This year’s line-up includes celebrated TV chef Rosemary Shrager, guest chef Stuart Collins from Docket Restaurant, Whitchurch, and a special demonstration from Morgan’s Butchers.

Fans of live-fire cooking can head to the Blaze & Graze Fire Bowl, where some of the region’s most exciting chefs will showcase their skills. Returning favourites include Adam Purnell – The Shropshire Lad, alongside Matias Casotto of 1415 Argentinian BBQ and Lee Milburn from Antony’s of Wellington.

Families can also get involved in the action at Let’s Get Cooking. Gourmet chef Steve Lyons will be teaching children how to make fresh pasta and preparing a delicious feast with the team from Newport Food Save & Share.

New for 2026, visitors can also enjoy Veenow Wine Tasting from Waters Upton, offering the opportunity to sample and learn more about a range of wines in a relaxed and friendly setting.

With live demonstrations, hands-on experiences and incredible food and drink throughout the day, the Festival of Food at Newport Show 2026 promises to be a must-visit destination for food lovers of all ages.

Rosemary endeared herself to the nation when she took part in ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’ where she proved she could cook just about anything, anywhere! Rosemary’s numerous TV appearances include her eponymous Rosemary’s Chopping Block as well as ITV’s Cooking With the Stars, The Big Family Cooking Showdown and the very successful The Real Marigold Hotel which aired on BBC to great acclaim and was nominated for, and won a string of awards.

Stuart Collins will be taking the stage at the Festival of Foods this year, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a passion for bold, flavour-led cooking. As co-owner and chef at Docket restaurant, Stuart has extensive knowledge of flavour-packed dishes, contemporary drinks, and knowledgeable service.

Stuart has been working in some of the most demanding kitchens in the world. With his years of experience in fine dining restaurants, he has worked alongside Gordon Ramsay at a 3-star Michelin restaurant and in Doha, Qatar, on a number of hospitality projects at the Qatar Foundation. In 2017, Stuart brought his vision to life by opening his own restaurant, Docket.

Nicky Laceby, known for her appearance on The Great British Bake Off (Series 14), is a passionate cook, presenter, and content creator with a warm, approachable style and a love of seasonal, flavour-led food. It’s been a busy year for Nicky, delivering live talks and demonstrations at events including the Festive Good Food Show and Brands Hatch Festival Italia, and reaching the final five in the prestigious Golden Spurtle competition, a celebration of creativity in oat-based dishes.

Her recipes have been featured in magazines, and she creates content for social media, including her popular Instagram page @nickybakesalot, collaborates with Everhot Cookers on YouTube, and recently hosted a live bake-along for Community Integrated Care. She is particularly passionate about bringing people together through food, using her platform to inspire confidence, creativity, and connection in the kitchen. Catch Nicky live at the Newport Show for an inspiring and flavour-packed demonstration.

The master butcher, Darren Morgan, is set to deliver an exciting, truly unmissable demonstration this year at Festival of Foods, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the skill, precision and heritage behind traditional butchery.

From a small village in North Shropshire, Darren represents a remarkable family legacy. Darran Morgan’s family has run their own butchers, Morgan’s Country Butchers, for over 200 years.

The popular Red Rooster Bar will once again provide the perfect place to relax and soak up the atmosphere. Overlooking the showground, visitors can unwind with a drink while enjoying live music from David Busby and Daniel James.

Adam Purnell, better known as ‘The Shropshire Lad’, is a returning fan favourite, and a true showman for flame-cooked food. Adam will bring his signature style and passion to life, showcasing his outdoor cooking adventures.

Adam first began sharing his culinary journey back in 2017 through his popular Youtube channel, where he documents his cooking adventure across Shropshire. What started as a hobby, grew into a widely followed platform, celebrating bold flavours and the joy of cooking over a fire.

Grill master Matias Cosotto will take the stage at the Blaze & Graze Fire Bowl, delivering a public class on the traditions, techniques and spirit of Argentine barbecue.

The fire cook is an entrepreneur and content creator based in the United Kingdom, and the founder of 1415 Asado. Born and raised in Argentina, Matias grew up around the culture of the asado. In Argentina, barbecue is not just a way to cook meat, it is seen as a way to bring people together around the fire and share food with family and friends.

In 2002, Steve Lyons won a Scholarship to work with Raymond Blanc at his 2* Michelin Restaurant and Hotel, Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons. After four years developing his skills in one of the most famous kitchens in the country, Steve moved on to work at 2* Michelin restaurant Le Champignon Sauvage. After 3 successful years, Steve was asked to teach in the Raymond Blanc Cookery School, passing on the skills I had learnt. After 5 rewarding years, Steve left his role as Senior Tutor, returning to Worcestershire with his family, where he started “All About the Food” which sees him traveling the country, passing on his vast knowledge and expertise at dinner Parties, Cookery Lessons, Corporate events and fantastic festivals such as the Newport Show. Families can get involved in the action at Let’s Get Cooking, where Steve Lyons will be teaching children how to make fresh pasta and preparing a delicious feast with the team from Newport Food Save & Share.

Festival of Foods is delighted to welcome Veenow for 2026, bringing an exciting new wine- tasting experience to the programme. Visitors will be invited to unwind and taste a carefully curated selection of wines, with the chance to discover and learn more about Veenow in a relaxed and friendly setting.

Founded in 2021 in Telford, Shropshire, Veenow is a family-run vineyard, rooted from the strong commitment of sustainability. Grown and crafted by the Greenow family, their wines are produced from a single-site vineyard, resulting in elegant, sophisticated still wines. At this year’s festival, guests can look forward to tasting a selection of beautifully refined white and rose wines.