FŌDA Food Festival 2025 brings culinary ideas to Bristol

FŌDA, a “festival of food ideas,” comes to Bristol’s Arnolfini on 27 - 28 September, combining lively discussion, artisan producers, and hands-on workshops.

Founded by chef Josh Eggleton MBE and Shona Graham of Team Canteen, the event builds on Josh's community work and opens to the public for the first time this year.

Challenging How We Think About Food

FŌDA tackles key topics from health to regenerative farming, uniting chefs, producers, grassroots groups and the public through talks, workshops and exhibitions.

Josh said: “I’ve always wanted to use the energy and culture we have here in Bristol to create nationwide conversations around food. The aim of FŌDA is to challenge our perceptions of, and relationship with food - from how we source it to how we eat it - and how we pass this knowledge on to the next generations. My hope is that this will become an annual event providing the public with access to experts at the top of their game, and that we’ll have some lively debate.”

The Symposium

The highlight is the Sunday symposium, chaired by food writer Xanthe Clay and Sharpham Park founder Roger Saul. Four themed panels will invite debate and audience questions:

• Salt – with Philip Tanswell, Ash Rampura, Gurdeep Loyal, and Josh Eggleton.

• Fat - with Margot Henderson, Tom Calver, and Kalpna Woolf.

• Acid– with Yeo Valley, David Rowley, and Liam Fitzpatrick.

• Sweet - with Max La Manna, Tom Herbert, Emma Hopkins, Josh Eggleton, and Eleni Morus.

What’s On

Producer Village – A harbourside market celebrating southwest makers, from cheeses and spirits to fresh produce, with food by The Pony, 91 Ways and the Square Food Foundation.

The Pony Farm Bus – A vintage double-decker turned food education hub with hydroponics, a demo kitchen, and children’s pizza and pasta workshops.

Sourdough workshops - Led by baker and nutrition expert Dr Vanessa Kimbell.

Food and Art- Exhibitions including Chefs in Lockdown and We Feed the UK plus family art activities.

A Weekend of Ideas and Inspiration

From market stalls to thought-provoking talks, FŌDA aims to spark nationwide conversations about food and its future.

Tickets for the symposium are available via the FŌDA website.

written by abi kinsella