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MIX 56 CHESHIRE'S BEST MUSIC MIX
Chester and North Wales Food & Drink Festival 2026
Chester and North Wales Food and Drink Festival 2026: Celebrating Local Flavours
Despite a weekend of unpredictable weather, visitors recently flocked to Chester Racecourse for one of the region’s biggest foodie celebrations — the Chester and North Wales Food and Drink Festival.
Now in its 25th year, this much-loved event continues to champion local produce and community spirit, bringing together some of the finest artisan makers and culinary talent from across North Wales and Cheshire.
With over 80 stallholders, a bustling artisan market, cooking workshops, celebrity chef demos and a fantastic line-up of live music and funfair entertainment, there was something for everyone to savour.
Although the Saturday event had to be cancelled due to the weather, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of visitors or traders who made the most of the Friday and Sunday sessions.
This year’s festival also marked a new chapter under a fresh management team, bringing exciting new energy and ideas to the long-established weekend.
MIX56 joined the celebration on opening day, broadcasting live from Chester Racecourse and chatting to a wide range of vendors and guests — all equally passionate about sharing great food and local craftsmanship. You can hear the best of the guests right here.
Nelson’s Wood Fired Pizza
First up on-air, we caught up with Tom from Nelson’s Wood Fired Pizzas, who revealed his secret to creating the perfect pizza.
Nelson’s Wood Fired Pizza
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Tom MIX 56
A Toast to Local Spirit with Henstone Distillery
Next up on our live broadcast, we met the team from Henstone Distillery, who were proudly showcasing their award-winning handcrafted spirits all the way from Shropshire.
Father-and-daughter duo Chris and Flo welcomed us to their stand for a mini tasting tour of their impressive line-up — from smooth gins to rich, characterful whiskies, all distilled with care and passion.
The pair told us about their recent success at the 2026 People’s Choice Awards, where they took home not one but two medals, a fantastic achievement that’s helping shine a spotlight on their small-batch distillery.
Their enthusiasm — and the delicious samples — certainly got the crowd’s attention, proving once again that the festival is as much about the people behind the produce as it is about what’s in the bottle.
Henstone Distillery
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Chris and Flo MIX 56
Farm to Fork with Welsh Luing Beef
Our next stop took us to the Welsh Luing Beef stand, where the irresistible aroma of sizzling steak had gathered quite a queue.
We caught up with Iwan Davies from the family-run farm in Corwen, whose passion for quality and animal welfare came through in every word — and every bite.
Iwan explained that their herd is made up of the hardy, native Luing breed – a cross between Shorthorn and Highland cattle originally developed on the Isle of Luing in Scotland.
The result is a superior beef known for its rich flavour and tenderness — something that festival visitors were eager to sample for themselves.
It’s clear that Welsh Luing Beef’s dedication to traditional farming and sustainable methods is being well received, as their stall remained one of the busiest throughout the weekend.
Eidion Luing
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Iwan Davies MIX 56
Rolling with Pig in the Middle — and a Visit to The Hospitality Hero
It was hard to miss the mouthwatering smells coming from Pig in the Middle, where we caught up with Billy to chat about their range of irresistible artisan sausage rolls.
With over 13 flavours to choose from — including inventive combinations like Pork, Marmite and Cheddar and Pork Tikka with Mango Chutney — it’s no surprise their stall was one of the weekend favourites.
While Smithy (quite understandably) couldn’t resist sampling a few, Ian took the opportunity to explore elsewhere and dropped in on Jules at The Hospitality Hero.
Jules introduced us to an inspiring new book, Bee My Guest by Steven Hesketh, which aims to encourage young people to discover the exciting and rewarding world of hospitality.
And since it was Easter weekend, the fun didn’t stop there — Ian even joined in their Easter egg hunt, proving that this festival isn’t just about great food and drink, but about community, creativity, and a good dose of fun too!
Pig in the Middle & Hospitality Hero
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Billy & Jules MIX 56
Conservation at Heart with Chester Zoo
The festival wasn’t just about tempting tastes and artisan treats — there was plenty more to discover across the stalls.
Ian headed over to meet Mil from Chester Zoo, who was there promoting the importance of wildlife conservation and sharing the incredible work the zoo continues to do both locally and worldwide.
Alongside the inspiring conversation, visitors were treated to a charming display of soft animal toys and sweet goodies, making the stand a favourite with families and younger festival-goers.
Mil’s enthusiasm for protecting wildlife and encouraging education through fun experiences captured exactly what this event celebrates — community, curiosity, and care for our environment.
Chester Zoo
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Mil MIX 56
Celebrity Chefs and Cookery Magic
Of course, no food and drink festival would be complete without its live cookery demonstrations and celebrity guest chefs, and Chester didn’t disappoint.
Across the weekend, visitors gathered under the marquee to watch some of the region’s best-loved chefs turn simple ingredients into showstopping dishes.
We were delighted to chat with Brian Mellor from Dad’s Kitchen and Garden, who reminded us that great cooking doesn’t always need to be complicated.
His demo proved that with a little creativity and quality local produce, even something as humble as cheese on toast can be transformed into a truly posh dish — and a crowd favourite!
It was a great reminder of the festival’s spirit — celebrating real food, made with passion, and shared with good company.
Dad’s Kitchen
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Brian Mellor MIX 56
A Weekend to Remember
Despite the unpredictable weather and the disappointment of Saturday’s cancellation, the Chester and North Wales Food and Drink Festival 2026 once again proved why it remains one of the region’s most anticipated spring events.
From artisan producers and award-winning distillers to family farms, chefs, and community organisations, the festival showcased the very best of local creativity and flavour.
The atmosphere was full of enthusiasm and good humour, with visitors braving the elements to enjoy great food, music, and company. For the new management team, it was a promising start to a fresh chapter — and for the thousands who attended, a weekend to savour.
We at MIX56 were thrilled to be part of the celebrations, broadcasting live and meeting so many inspiring people from across North Wales, Cheshire, and beyond.
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat (and share a snack or two!) — you helped make it a truly memorable start to the festival season.
Until next year — here’s to more sunshine, more smiles, and even more delicious local discoveries!
