Live Music • Entertainment • Street Food • 100’s of Exhibitors • Cooking Demonstrations • Children’s Activities
Exhibitor Information
Are you interested in exhibiting?
The Nantwich Food Festival is returning on 29th August 2025, aiming to reconfirm our reputation as one of the most popular and respected food festivals in the country. We have regularly attracted over 40,000 visitors to our 3 day event, making us one of the UK’s largest free-to-enter food festivals.
The festival has two gourmet food halls set in different areas, within the heart of our historic town centre. As well as food & drink from around the world, we offer crowd-pulling family activities all weekend including kids’ activities, cookery demonstrations, cookalongs, 2 live music stages, tastings, local and celebrity chefs.
As a valued exhibitor, you will get personalised booking assistance – we’re not a big corporate, and we get great feedback for going the extra mile. Repeat bookings are high, a testament to exhibitor satisfaction, but we’re always looking for high-quality additions to join our foodie family!
Discounts
Discounts are available for exhibitors only (not for onsite catering/instant consumable units) on the rate per metre, as follows:
- 30%, for Nantwich artisan producers, excluding alcoholic drink.
- 20%, for local area artisan producers, excluding alcoholic drink (based within 10 miles of Nantwich town centre)
- Outside the local area, a 20% discount for exhibitors who we believe will significantly add to variety and diversity at the festival. These may include traders specialising in:
- Vegan/vegetarian, excluding cheese and sweet baked goods
- Fruit & veg
- Seafood
- Delicatessen
- Meat and game
- Savoury meat products (e.g. pies and sausage rolls)
- Exotic, international
- Coffee, tea (dry)
Exhibitors Faqs
Electricity Supply
Exhibitor Areas
Exhibitor arrival and set-up
Exhibitor Documentation
General festival info
Licensing for alcohol traders
Marquee stalls
Booking Forms
Exhibitors booking form in PDF format
Exhibitors booking form in Word format Onsite catering and instant consumables form in PDF format Onsite catering and instant consumables form in Word format
Please email your completed booking form, and/or any queries to exhibitors@nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk
Information Documents
Food Safety Rules Exhibitor Advertising Opportunities
Onsite Catering units and Instant Consumables stands.
Space for onsite catering units and instant consumable stands is limited and has been heavily oversubscribed in previous years. We ask all hot food/instant consumables traders to submit applications for consideration by 31st March 2025. We will then let you know whether we can fit you in, during April 2025.
Note, it is important that the festival offers a diverse range of foods, locally sourced where possible with clear menus and displays. Please use the space provided in the form to provide as much detail as possible to support your application. E.g.
- Photos/images of the company at a similar event
- Example menu with suggested prices
For a Temporary Event Notice to sell alcohol, further information and details of how to apply can be found HERE. Please also refer to the FAQ section for further details.
If you cannot email the form, then you may also post it to:
Nantwich Food Festival Ltd, Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG
We look forward to welcoming you to Nantwich Food Festival this year.
Can I get an electricity supply for my pitch?
You can book an electricity supply (13, 15 and 32 amp sockets) through the exhibitor application form. If you wish to add or change this after you have applied, please email us. Note, electricity must be booked in advance of the festival.
Are extension leads available for the 13 amp supply?
Sorry no. Please bring your own extension leads for use within your pitch. Note, if you will use more than 13 amps, then you will need to order a second 13 amp supply .
From what time will the electricity supply be available to exhibitors?
We aim for the supply to be available from 5:00pm on Thursday, although this can be delayed slightly as the team work hard to complete the set-up. The supply remains available continuously until festival close on Sunday.
How is the exhibitor space laid out at the festival?
The festival provides exhibitor space in three separate locations within the town: Bowling Green, Love Lane and the town centre. These are separated by a few minutes’ walk and operate quite independently.
Bowling Green
A large marquee with stalls for approx. 60 exhibitors and a stage area, which accommodates approx. 15 hot food traders and bars, a music stage and a covered space for visitors to eat, drink and relax.
Love Lane
As per the Bowling Green, a large marquee with a music stage and ancillary areas for visitors to relax. The marquee holds approx. 60 exhibitors and the surrounding space accommodates approx. 40 hot food traders and bars.
Town Centre
A smaller area based in the town square and around St. Mary’s Church that accommodates approx. 40 exhibitor spaces. No cover is provided in the town centre, so exhibitors must bring their own gazebo or small vehicle for trading. Please note that sales of alcohol drinks are not permitted in this area.
How are the marquee stalls set up?
The marquee stalls are laid out in a shell scheme. Stalls are a minimum 2 metres width, and a standard 2 metres in depth.
When will I receive joining instructions for the festival?
Joining instructions will be emailed approximately two weeks before the festival. They will confirm where your pitch is located, how to get there, where to park during the festival and what you will need to bring with you.
When can I set up my stall in the marquee?
Exhibitor set-up times are:
Bowling Green
– Thursday 4:00pm to 8:00pm
– Friday 7:00am to 10:30am (vehicles off by 10:30am)
Love Lane
– Thursday 5:00pm to 9:00pm
– Friday 7:30am to 10:30am (vehicles off by 10:00am)
Town square
– Thursday You are strongly advised not to set up on Thursday (security is not available overnight Thur/Fri)
– Friday 7:30am to 10:30am (vehicles off by 10:30am)
Within these times, you may drive to the site to unload, then drive your vehicle to the designated exhibitor car park before returning to your pitch.
You must be set up and ready to trade in good time before the festival opens to the public each day.
I’m trading on Saturday / Sunday only. When can I set up?
Please arrive to ensure you have enough time to set up and then have 30 minutes spare, to drive your vehicle in the designated exhibitor car park and return to your pitch.
How can I re-stock my stand / remove my stock at the end of trading each day?
You may drive to the site to re-stock each morning before trading starts, and to remove your stock at the end of the day after trading closes.
Do I need a pass to get on to site?
No, we don’t have passes for exhibitors. Just follow the navigation details in the joining instructions and, on arrival, look for someone from the exhibitor team (in a hi-vis jacket) to direct you.
Can I get a plan showing exactly where I will be trading from?
The joining instructions will tell you the area where you will be trading from. You will be advised of the exact location when you arrive, as the festival team may have had to make last minute adjustments to your location.
Do you have a template for the Risk Assessment form?
The Health and Safety Executive have guidance and templates for Risk Assessment, which you can find if you search the internet for “HSE risk assessment”. Please ensure you cover the risks associated with what you will be doing at the festival and what you are doing to mitigate them (e.g. training, maintaining a tidy space.)
What are the festival opening hours?
The festival is open to the public as follows:
– Friday 11:00am to 8:00pm
– Saturday 9:00am to 7:00pm
– Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm
Please do not close your pitch early, as it disrupts those continuing to trade.
Is there camping or hotel accommodation available at the festival?
Sorry, but the festival does not provide any accommodation. Check the internet for availability in the Nantwich area.
Is there a group TEN licence to cover all alcohol traders?
No. Cheshire East Council do not provide a group licence covering all alcohol traders.
Do I need a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to trade at the festival?
All traders offering alcoholic drinks must obtain a TEN from Cheshire East Council. Each trader must make an individual application, as the festival organisers cannot obtain one on behalf of all alcohol traders. Click here to apply.
You are strongly advised to apply 4 weeks in advance of the festival.
Are tables and chairs provided for the marquee stalls?
A trestle table and 2 chairs should be provided for every marquee stall. There will be a supply of these on site, so if you don’t have what you need, ask the marquee team for help.
Two sizes of table are available:
– Large: 6′ x 2’6″ (1.82m x 0.76m)
– Small: 4′ x 2’6″ (1.2m x 0.76m)