The Big Feastival - 2018

6 September, 2018

Once again this year, we were excited to head to Oxfordshire to experience The Big Feastival. Located at Alex Jame’s farm in Kingham, The Big Feastival is not your average festival, and as the name suggests, is just as much about the food as it is about the music.

This year saw an impressive selection of headline acts, including the likes of Basement Jaxx, Craig David and Paloma Faith. And not to be beaten by the music, the street food also brought its A game with some London restaurants even creeping into the scene. We saw Breddos Tacos making an appearance, as well as Claw, Le Bab and Salvation in Noodles, to name a few.

There are several different areas dedicated to the different things The Big Feastival has to offer, which are not solely limited to food and music. This year we noticed a definite increase in the amount of activities hosted for children, and were impressed with the variety, which included a magic act, Dick and Dom, and guest appearances from Peppa Pig and Paddington, to name just a couple.

Not to leave the adults out, we also thoroughly enjoyed the Veuve Clicquot VIP Lounge, which really pulled out all the stops. With a private bar and a complimentary glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne, we felt very well looked after. The area also offered deck chairs with fantastic views of the main stage and with shorter bar queues and smarter toilets, we couldn’t have been happier there. Claw also made an appearance in the Veuve Clicquot VIP Lounge, which allowed guests to enjoy signature crab dishes and Veuve Cliquot pairings out of the hustle and bustle of the main festival site.

"Adults and children alike will have a fantastic time at this all-rounder festival, which we believe truly does cater to all tastes and all expectations.”

On the Friday night, we decided to go along to the Friday Night Supper Club which saw a beautiful al fresco dining space where an abundance of guests were enjoying dinner and drinks during the golden hour as the sun went down. Hosted by Matthew and Ian Pennington from the award winning Ethicurean in Bristol, the evening was not to be missed, and the food offering was simply wonderful. We were surprised to learn that the entire menu had been devised from only food waste ingredients, and was aptly named The Ethicurean Wasted Feast.

One of our favourite parts of the festival last year was the double-decker Cheese Hub, and this year's offering failed to disappoint once again. The Cheese Hub is hosted by Alex James himself, you'll also sometimes be able to spot Alex behind the decks, amongst other well-known DJs who create a fun-filled, party atmosphere. Upstairs allows you to watch the sun go down over the main stage which is really quite special. Don't forget to grab yourself a cheeseboard or toasties, they are truley delicious.

As well as all the street food and live entertainment, we also once again really enjoyed the live cooking demonstrations hosted by celebrity chefs. This year we were fortunate enough to learn from Marco Pierre White, Raymond Blanc, Andi Oliver, Gizzi Erskine and Mark Hix, amongst many others.

The Big Feastival offers a variety of accommodation options for the three day event, which cater for couples and families. You can camp, or stay in your caravan or motor home, or if glamping is more your style, options for that are also available.

We absolutely love The Big Feastival every year, and are already looking forward to next year’s event. Adults and children alike will have a fantastic time at this all-rounder festival, which we believe truly does cater to all tastes and all expectations. It comes highly recommended by us as a very exciting long weekend.

Photo credits: Carolina Faruolo, Justine Trickett, Max Miechowski, Joshua Atkins, Richard Johnson / Fanatic

How to travel

Jonny Rocks Chauffeurs