21 years on – and a fresh direction!
To mark the festival’s 20th year in 2025 and with a new team at the helm, the festival is taking a fresh direction – taking on board visitor feedback and bringing exciting new additions to the programme alongside old favourites to increase visitor participation and engagement. Head to the programme section to find out more…
It’s all about the town (and the food!)
A not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) the aim of the festival remains, as it always has been, to help promote the town of Stone.
It brings visitors – and their cash – into the area to give local businesses a boost while providing a fun-filled event for the community. Over the years, it has also become a platform for the promotion of Staffordshire as a foodie destination – showcasing the county’s finest culinary talent alongside the very best of its artisan produce.
30k
Visitors a year
20 years
A festival with history and xxxxxd
Meet our dedicated Directors
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Ed Stant
Director (Logistics)
Ed Stant - Director (Logistics)
Cath Haigh
Director (Sponsors)
Cath Haigh - Director (Sponsors)
Ange’s sister Cath will be another familiar face if you’re a regular festival-goer, having volunteered on the gate at the event since the early days. With the festival relying heavily on sponsorship from local businesses, when we were looking for someone to formalise and drive forward the commercial side of the operation Cath, with her background in building corporate relationships within the hospitality sector, was the natural choice. Her dynamic and highly organised approach has seen the festival significantly increase its income from sponsorship in her first few months in the role – and forge strong relationships with exciting local businesses for the future.
Ange Arnold
Director (Traders)
Ange Arnold - Director (Traders)
An organisational super-woman who has been a volunteer for many years, Ange officially joined the team as Trader Co-ordinator in 2021. From securing bookings to organising site plans and general comms Ange ensures our traders festival journey is a smooth one, while running a watertight ship admin behind the scenes. With an eye for detail and a talent for trouble-shooting, Ange is an invaluable member of the team. She is a real grafter and, along with husband Tony and children Josh and Katie (who you’ll regularly see at events in their volunteers’ high vis) helps run the Stone Street Food and Sunday Series events in town, too. Her impact on the smooth running of the fest has been such that, within 12 months, she was invited to join the board of directors.
Charlotte Eglington
Director (Marketing)
Charlotte Eglington - Director (Marketing)
Charlotte runs Squash PR. Since 2011 she’s worked with us to make sure everyone knows about the festival through marketing and social media, and manages communication with visitors. A hive of creativity, she was invited onto the Board of Directors in 2014 and in this role plays a big part in developing new events and attractions to keep the festival fresh and exciting. A mum of two children, she is passionate about little ones being involved in the festival experience.
Richard Stevens
President
Richard Stevens - President
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Stone Food & Drink Festival relies heavily on its amazing volunteer workforce!
From gate staff to stewards, help with setting up, litter pickers – and everything in between – we need a small army every year to ensure the festival goes off without a hitch.
If you’re interested in becoming one of our hard-working volunteers and having great fun with a team of like-minded individuals, you can find out more here, or email us on volunteers@stonefooddrink.org.uk
The majority of traders offer options that cater for special dietary requirements, including vegan and gluten-free. Please ask the individual traders for options and discuss any food allergies or intolerances directly with them.
Portable toilets are to be found in several locations on the main Westbridge Park festival site. Stone town centre public toilets can be found adjacent to the Crown Street car park and in Station Road.
Prices for entry to the main festival site at Westbridge Park click here.
Tickets can be bought at the gate on the day of arrival and can be purchased with cash or card.
CONCESSIONS:
Friday only (valid NUS card or bus pass must be shown)
Disabled guests can bring a carer at no extra cost; a DLA letter is required.
Stone Food and Drink Festival is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company and is run entirely by volunteers.
We are very grateful to all organisations, companies, businesses and individuals who make it possible for us to organise the Festival each year.
For more details, visit our sponsors page. If you’re interested in sponsoring the event please email sponsors@stonefooddrink.org.uk
While we cherry-pick exhibitors for the quality of their products, should you have an issue with the quality of an item purchased, in the first instance, please raise it with the stallholder.
If you don’t have their contact details, get in touch, and we will pass them on so you are able to resolve the issue.
We wish the festival to remain of an exceptional quality across the board, so if you have a major problem with product quality that you think we should be aware of, please let us know in writing via traders@stonefooddrink.org.uk or the postal address on our contact page, stating the nature of the problem and the stallholder(s) involved.
The Stone Food & Drink Festival is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC).
It is run by a team of volunteers with the aim of promoting Stone as a destination and Staffordshire produce.
Any profits from the event are ploughed back into the festival, helping to ensure its future.
There is no visitor parking available for the festival at Westbridge Park itself, but there are numerous Pay & Display car parks within walking distance of Stone High Street and the main festival site of Westbridge Park.
They include:
Short Stay – Crown Street – ST15 8QN; Stone Leisure Centre – ST15 8QW
Variable Stay – Christchurch Way – ST15 8GG
More information on parking in Stone can be found here: https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/car-parking-in-stone
The main festival site at Westbridge Park is open:
Fri 7 May 7 pm – 8.30 pm (last entry 7 pm)
Sat 8 May 10 am – 8.30 pm (last entry 7 pm)
Sun 9 May 10 am – 6.00 pm (last entry 5 pm)
Fri & Sat – Band finishes 8pm; Site empty & closed 8.30pm
Sun – Band finishes 5.30pm; Site empty & closed 6pm
Stone is a beautiful market town situated midway between Stafford and Stoke on Trent, close to the A34 and alongside the Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Trent.
Stone is easily accessible by bus and train, and we encourage all visitors to consider using public transport to make their way to the event.
Buses
The 101 bus from Stafford to Hanley makes several stops in Stone; the closest stop on the service from Stafford to Westbridge Park being Crown Street and on the route from Stoke being Christchurch Way; both just a few hundred yards stroll from the festival gates. Plan your journey here: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Transport/Buses/Plan-your-journey/Stafford-and-Stone.aspx
Trains
Stone train station is located approximately 10 minutes’ walk from the festival site at Westbridge Park. Plan your journey here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/stone-staffs/
By Car
Stone is located off the A34 between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent. From the M6 take J14 or J15 and follow directions to Stone town centre.
Westbridge Park (no parking provided – limited disabled spaces on the adjacent Leisure Centre car park) Sat Nav ref: ST15 8QW
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By Canal
The Trent and Mersey Canal runs through the town and there is ample towpath mooring. Further information can be found on the following websites.
The Inland Waterways Association site
The Canal and River Trust
www.canalcruising.co.uk for boat hire and services at Crown Street Wharf
First Aid practitioners are on site at all times during the main festival at Westbridge Park. Public defibrillators can be found at (list to follow)
If you are a new trader interested in exhibiting at the Stone Food & Drink Festival, please fill in our application form on our ‘get involved’ webpage or email traders@stonefooddrink.org.uk with details of your company, products and address and contact information. No applications will be accepted over the festival phone.
Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome at the festival. Please note that dogs must be kept on a short lead and under close control at all times; they will not be allowed into the Gourmet Marquee or other spaces where food is being served.
Owners are responsible for clearing up after their pets, and dog waste bins will be provided at several points, along with dog water bowls. The festival team reserves the right to ask anyone whose dog is misbehaving, out of control or who fails to clean up dog mess to leave the site to ensure the safety and enjoyment of other visitors. A doggy comfort area (dogs to remain on leads) with water bowls will be provided in K9 Corner
We want the festival to be accessible and welcoming to all, and we make every effort to ensure the majority of the site is accessible by wheelchair.
Please be aware, however, that the large number of visitors can make navigating the main shopping village during peak times difficult for less mobile visitors.
Accessible toilet facilities are provided, and there are parking spaces for Blue Badge holders at the pay & display car park at the Leisure centre next to the festival site, plus those on the corner of Stafford Street and Crown Street.
For those needing the support of a carer, free entry for one carer is offered with each disabled visitor buying a full price ticket. DLA letter will be required on entry to qualify.
The next Stone Food & Drink Festival will take place on 7th, 8th & 9th May 2027. There are also a host of other events going on in and around town all festival week.
That depends on whether you enjoy crowds or would prefer to visit when it’s quieter.
Stone is bustling during food festival week – if you don’t really like crowds, we recommend you plan your visit for Friday afternoon, when the main festival at Westbridge Park is quieter than on Saturday and Sunday.
At peak times, there can be queues to get into the festival – avoid by buying your tickets in advance online!
Our fun competition is FREE to enter for anyone with a festival ticket – click here to find out more!
Groups and coach parties are welcome at the festival – especially on Friday, which tends to be a little quieter than the weekend days.
Please contact us in advance to discuss group ticket discounts and for information on parking.
Most stallholders accept credit and debit cards, plus contactless payments under £100 are now accepted at the gate, as are a number of stalls, food outlets and bars. There are no cash points on the main Westbridge Park festival site.
There is a cash point outside Morrisons on Christchurch Way, and there is a cash point outside Lloyds Bank at the top of the High Street where you’ll also find the Festival Farmers’ Market on Saturday. Cash points are also located at Waitrose, the Shell Garage on Walton roundabout and inside the Co-op at Walton Shops on Eccleshall Rd. If you want to use cash, we recommend you plan ahead and bring a ready supply in advance to avoid inconvenience.
There’s lots going on in and around Stone for the whole of food festival week – whether you need a place to stay for the weekend or are planning a longer break there’s a good choice of hotels & B&Bs, in the area for you to choose from – plus, as a canal town, there are canal boats for hire and several options for moorings. Click here for our guide to local accommodation.
Baby changing facilities are provided on the main food festival site at Westbridge Park. The site is accessible for buggies.
Children are welcome at the Stone Food & Drink Festival!
School groups are encouraged to join us on festival Friday – please email charlotte@squash-pr.co.uk to arrange your visit.
Accompanied under-16s get free entry to the main Westbridge Park site throughout the event on Fri 9 May (no ticket required), and there is a small charge per child on Saturday & Sunday, with plenty to keep them entertained – including children’s rides and our Family Zone.
