The Abergavenny Food Festival returns once again this weekend and foodie fever is already sweeping through the town in anticipation of the biggest date on the town’s calendar.

80 per cent of the stallholders at this year’s event come from a two-hour radius of Abergavenny, with a big emphasis on local produce and talent. The town’s newest celebrity resident, Richard Hammond, will also be on-stage with Richard Hammond this Sunday to discuss his career and new venture into the beverage industry.

Over 18,000 are expected to descent on the ‘Gateway to Wales’ for the weekend, more than doubling the size of the town and is now in its 28th year. 16 different venues across the town will be hosting the events bringing together makers, growers, thinkers, campaigners, chefs and food lovers from across Wales and the rest of the UK. Here are the details locals and visitors should know before heading into town.

The venues

  • The market hall will host over 40 food and drink producers with the signature Abergavenny Market experience. There will also be lots of crafts, plants and everything in between on sale!
  • Lower brewery yard - just behind the market in the lower brewery yard will be the chef’s kitchen tent, where live cooking demos with real care and curiosity will be taking place. There will also be a music tent where local bands and choirs will fill the air with live music across both days. The tent will be free with a wristband - there’s no need to book!
  • The Angel Hotel - some of the festival’s most anticipated conversations will take place here. These are the individually-ticketed events, including Saturday Kitchen’s wine expert, Olly Smith, and the Richard Hammond talk on Sunday.
  • Abergavenny Castle - the usually peaceful, ancient ruins of Abergavenny Castle are transformed into a hive of activity with smells of good food and sounds of laughter in the background. The Dome is here, with talks and panel debates as well as quizzes and Pete Brown’s ‘pairing beer with music’ event. The kids’ cookery school is also in the castle as well as the cooking over fire stage, cookbook shop and the local and vocal tent.
  • Pugh’s Garden Kitchen - one of the newer additions to the food festival, having opened in 2025. On the edge of Abergavenny Town Centre, the new garden cafe is one of the quieter corners of the festival but packed with just as much flavour, including wine and cheese tastings with ticketed events.
  • Linda Vista Gardens - for the first time since being awarded Green Flag Status, Linda Vista Gardens hosts guided walks, a picnic area and a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle of the busy town centre.

Party at the castle Abergavenny food festival 2025
Anybody for a party in the castle? (Abergavenny Food Festival)

The local producers heading to Abergavenny

There are dozens of local producers ready to set up for a busy weekend in town. Jon Cholokian, who spoke to The Chronicle after his live cookery demonstration at Harrod’s last year, is opening the Saturday demo stage.

There will also be an opportunity to taste lots of locally produced food and drink with businesses from Monmouthshire and Powys. They are:

  • The Queen Bee Honey Company (Llandewi Rydderch)
  • MOMA Cellar t/a SOBREMESA drinks - Llantilio Pertholey
  • The Crafty Pickle Co - Crick
  • Black Mountains Smokery - Crickhowell
  • Trealy Farm Charcuterie - Penperlleni
  • Silver Circle Distillery - Monmouth
  • Wigmores - Usk
  • Blaenafon Cheddar Co - Blaenavon
  • Nant Helyg Farm Garlics - Crickhowell
  • Olyfo UK - Crickhowell
  • The Cheese Press - Crickhowell
  • Antur Brew Co - Crickhowell
  • Taste of Persia - Monmouth

Speakers’ New Books

Authors will also be in Abergavenny this weekend to answer questions about their experiences and books around the food and hospitality industries. There will be a chance to buy and read books over the weekend, they are:

  • On Fish - Nathan Outlaw
  • Daily - Honey and Co
  • How to Barbecue - Genevieve Taylor
  • Eat the Food you Buy - Martyn Ofell
  • Great British Barbecue - The Beefy Boys
  • Cooking with Sausages - Max Haley
  • Center Piece - Helen Graham
  • Persiana One - Sabrina Ghayour
  • Medesque - Georgina Hayden
  • Rough Patch - Cathy Slack
  • Citizens of Soil - Drizzle
  • Consider the Anchovy - Sudi Piggott
  • The Brownie Book - Kate Jenkins

The usual faces

Abergavenny’s independent shops, delis, cafes, butchers, restaurants and other businesses will also be opening their doors to all the visitors who are due to arrive over the next few days. Everyone is encouraged to show them just as much support as the visiting traders at the Food Festival!

Kahve - which is hosting an alcohol-free DJ Set on Satuday - was recently named the Best Turkish Restaurant in Wales while Casa Bianca was awarded the title for the country’s Best Italian in 2025. Abergavenny isn’t considered the food capital of Wales for nothing.

The practical stuff

Naturally, visitors and locals will want to know the best way of travelling to the food festival and how to avoid the worst of any disruption.

Road Closures

The following roads will be closed during the food festival, with drivers urged to find alternative routes.

  • Nevill Street
  • High Street
  • Flannel Street
  • St John’s Street and St John’s Square
  • Lion Street
  • Frogmore Street
  • Lower Castle Street
  • Cross Street
  • Market Street
  • King Street

Access will be maintained for those living within the immediate road closure footprint.

Driving

The Castle Meadows Festival Car Park will cost £5 for the day, it will be cash only and there is a pavement all the way to the festival from the car park. Gates open at 9am and there is strictly no overnight parking. The gates are locked at 5.30pm on Saturday.

Byfield, Lane and Castle Street car parks will also be open. But Lower Brewery Yard will be used for festival stalls over the weekend.

Public Transport

Abergavenny railway station is a ten minute walk from the festival entrance, with regular services from Cardiff, Newport and Hereford to the town. Check Transport for Wales, Trainline or National Rail for details.

Abergavenny Bus Station is also a five minute walk from the festival entrance with local services from destinations in Monmouthshire, Powys and over the border in England stopping there.

Pets

Dogs will not be allowed in any of the external of internal market venues (excluding assistance dogs).