Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2025: What’s on, road closures

There will be more than 150 traders taking part, offering their delicious goods to foodie enthusiasts and hungry visitors.

From halloumi wraps to wood-fired pizza and fried chicken to gyozas (plus many sweet treats), it’s set to be a County Durham feast to remember.

Bishop Auckland Food Festival will take place from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, April 12 and 10am to 4pm on Sunday, April 13.

Here is everything you need to know – from what’s on, celebrity chefs, park and ride, and road closures nearby.

What’s on at Bishop Auckland Food Festival this year?

As well as enjoying the tasty goods from more than 150 stalls, visitors will be able to watch cookery demonstrations from a line-up of popular celebrity chefs, including Sunday Brunch’s Simon Rimmer, social media influencer and baker Jane Dunn of Jane’s Patisserie, MasterChef 2024 champion Brin Pirathapan, TV judge and pastry chef Cherish Finden, master chocolatier Paul A Young, Italian chef Francesco Mattana and festival favourite TV presenter Chris Bavin, who returns as cookery theatre host.

That’s not all, as there will be lots of other activities, including ticketed workshops and a host of family-friendly street entertainment, from musicians to comedy performers.

This includes the likes of the Lollipop Ladies, Granny Turismo, North Tyneside Steel Band, Stanley Youngman, BubblePlay, The Rock Choir and much more.

See all events happening in your area here (Image: Newsquest) You can see the full programme on the Bishop Auckland Food Festival website.

How to get to Bishop Auckland Food Festival with park and ride

An accessible park and ride service will be in operation for visitors, which will run between Bishop Auckland College and George Street in the town centre.

• Buses will depart from Bishop Auckland College from 9.30am on Saturday and Sunday.
• The last returning buses will depart from George Street in the town centre at 5.30pm on Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday.
• Return tickets cost £2.50 for adults, 50p for children aged five to 15 years old and are free for those under five.   

The festival’s website adds: “Town centre car parks will be open, but are expected to be busy, and drivers should also be aware of diversions due to road closures for the event.”

Are you going to the festival on Saturday or Sunday? (Image: Northern Echo)

Road closures for Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2025

The following road closures that will be taking place throughout the foodie event this weekend are as follows:

• Fore Bondgate between its junctions with the bollard adjacent to Finkle Street and its junction with Newgate Street
• Castle Chare (north westbound only) from its junction with Durham Road/Kingsway to the circulatory carriageway of Market Place southern circulatory road
• Market Place southern service road that extends westerly from Castle Chare
• Market Place southern circulatory road that extents westerly passed St Annes Church to and including the Market Place western circulatory road – to its junction with North Bondgate
• The Market Place link road (Newgate St – Market Place)
• North Bondgate between the egress from the North Bondgate Car Park and the junction with Wear Chare.

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Sarah Glynn, Durham County Council’s strategic manager for culture, commented: “We have some absolutely tremendous producers in County Durham and the wider region.

“The best thing about Bishop Auckland Food Festival is that all these brilliant traders come together in one place, and we get to have our fill of the fantastic goods on offer.

“I hope visitors are building their appetites for a deliciously fun-filled weekend.”