It starts tomorrow. Victoria Park, May 29 to 31. The Southport Food and Drink Festival is the biggest food event of the year in the town and it tends to be genuinely good. I've been most years and the quality of traders has improved a lot over the past three or four editions.
What It Actually Is
Around 150 food and drink traders spread across Victoria Park. Street food, artisan producers, craft beer and gin, live music across the weekend. Entry is paid at the gate.
The mix of traders is broader than you might expect. International street food sits alongside local producers selling jams, chutneys, bread, and cheese. There are usually a handful of restaurant-quality food stalls if you're after a proper sit-down meal rather than walking food.
The evenings tend to be the liveliest. Friday evening is genuinely good. Saturday afternoon is the busiest session of the weekend. Sunday is the most relaxed. If you have the choice, Sunday morning is the best time to go.
Parking
Victoria Park is on Rotten Row (PR8 2BJ). The park has no on-site parking. Lord Street car parks are the nearest options: Bold Street multi-storey is 10 minutes on foot. Marine Drive car park on the Promenade is a similar distance from the festival entrance.
It will be busy this weekend, particularly Saturday. If you're coming from outside Southport, the train is a genuinely good option. Southport station is about 12 minutes' walk from Victoria Park.
What to Eat First
My approach: go straight past the entrance and do a full lap before buying anything. The layout changes year to year but the best stalls are usually at the far end, away from the entrance, where people who haven't done the lap end up missing them entirely.
Budget around £15-25 for food and drinks if you're doing it properly. It adds up quickly.
Practical Notes
- →Victoria Park, Rotten Row, Southport PR8 2BJ
- →May 29, 30 and 31 — Thursday to Sunday
- →Entry paid at the gate
- →Dogs allowed on leads
- →Nearest car parks: Bold Street multi-storey, Lord Street, Marine Drive
- →Train: Southport station, 12 minutes' walk
- →Card payments accepted at most stalls but bring some cash
Planning a visit? Check the full events guide:
Southport Events Guide →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
