Latest news with #ScoutingforGirls
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Food festival with celebrity chefs and musicians to come to London for bank holiday
A popular food festival will return to a west London park this month. Foodies Festival will visit Syon Park, Brentford, from May 24 to May 26, across the bank holiday weekend. The event, known as "Gastro-Glastonbury," will see a number of celebrity chefs and musicians perform. Pixie Lott, Scouting for Girls, and Max George and Siva Kaneswaran from The Wanted are among the acts set to perform. Foodies Festival offers street eats, drinks masterclasses, and live shows (Image: Black Circus Food) The three-day event will also feature live cooking demonstrations from TV celebrities and chefs from shows like MasterChef, Great British Bake Off, and Great British Menu. Some of the chefs set to appear include Atul Kochhar, Ben Palmer, Thomas Frake, Dhruv Baker, Anurag Aggarwal, Alex Webb, Ritchie Stainsby, Ayesha Kalaji, William Joshua, Hazel Vaughan, Eloise Durrant, Radhika Howarth, Dipna Anand, Jack Sturgess, and Dale Pinnock. Regional chefs Long Ng, Andres Quevedo Sanabria, Joe Laker, Jack Ward, and Joshua Hunter will also be at the event. Celebrity chefs and global cuisine star at Brentford's Foodies Festival (Image: Lumberjaxe) Pixie Lott said: "Summer festival season, food heaven, music and sunshine - what's not to love! "It's my first year joining the Foodies Festival tour; I'm so excited to experience the festival and hit London with my band. "I love family days out at festivals and this one ticks all the boxes." Siva Kaneswaren said: "Max and I are buzzing to be joining the Foodies Festival tour in 10 regions of England, Scotland and Wales! "It's exciting to be back out performing all The Wanted hits and seeing our lovely fans again. "We're both big food lovers and have tried some amazing cuisine around the world on our tours - but having it all in one place to try, amazing!" Visitors will enjoy a jam-packed schedule in the interactive live theatres. In the Chefs Theatre, celebrities will create their signature dishes and share new tips and tricks, whilst in the Cake & Desserts Theatre, patisserie chefs and star bakers whip up showstoppers and offer tempting sweet treats. In the Kids Cookery School, Foodies SuperChefs make cooking fun, helping younger guests to prepare delicious food which they can take away and enjoy. Masterclasses in the Drinks Theatre include tutored Champagne, Beer, Cider, Cocktail and Wine-tasting with ITV and BBC drinks experts. Browse the latest food trends in the Shopping Village, meet local producers in the Artisan Market and taste exotic and unusual new dishes in the Feasting Tent – which features a mouth-watering range of street food and delicacies from all four corners of the globe. New features this year include Great Taste Market, courtesy of Great Taste, where people can come together to discover new tastes and celebrate the art of good food. The Tasting Theatre - where visitors can explore a variety of themed tastings, from hot and spicy adventures to mystery sweet and savoury pairings. And International Cook School, where festival goers can learn new techniques and cook a dish to take away, with lessons from top chefs. Other activities include: Flaming hot action at the Fire stage with BBQ masters, Chilli Eating competitions, Silent, Disco, fairground rides, children's activities and family-friendly areas. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online.
Wales Online
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
17 of the best pictures from Foodies Festival Cardiff as crowds enjoy scorching weather
The sun was shining, there wasn't a cloud in sight, and where better to head to than a food festival in the middle of the Welsh capital? On Saturday, May 10, Cardiff welcomed the Foodies Festival in Bute Park. Under the looming turrets of Cardiff Castle, the delicious scent of sizzling street food and the distant thrum of basslines drifted across the park. The three-day celebration of all things edible (and drinkable) runs from Friday, May 9, to Sunday, May 11. At the food festival there is everything from celebrity chef demos to cocktail slushies, artisan markets, and headline performances from Symphonic Ibiza, Scouting for Girls, and Wanted 2.0 across the weekend. Now in its third year visiting the Welsh capital, this touring food and drink spectacular has fast become a calendar highlight. It's a place where top chefs might be showcasing their culinary skills one moment, and the next you're sampling black truffle sauce from Brighton, sipping a frozen daiquiri, or dancing to live music in the sun. Here are some of the best pictures as crowds enjoyed the gorgeous weather and delicious food.
Wales Online
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I went to the food festival in Cardiff that costs £23 to get in and one thing makes it a must-visit
I went to the food festival in Cardiff that costs £23 to get in and one thing makes it a must-visit With everything from gourmet truffle oils to hearty BBQ buns on offer, I checked out the best of the festival's food and drinks I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried some of the weird and the wonderful at this year's Foodie Festival, at Bute Park (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Under the looming turrets of Cardiff Castle, the delicious scent of sizzling street food and the distant thrum of bass lines drift across Bute Park—the Foodies Festival Cardiff is back, and it's already bursting with life. The three-day celebration of all things edible (and drinkable) runs from Friday, May 9, to Sunday, May 11 and features everything from celebrity chef demos to cocktail slushies, artisan markets, and headline performances from Symphonic Ibiza, Scouting for Girls, and Wanted 2.0 across the weekend. Now in its third year visiting the Welsh capital, this touring food and drink spectacular has fast become a calendar highlight. It's a place where top chefs might be showcasing their culinary skills one moment, and the next you're sampling black truffle sauce from Brighton, sipping a frozen daiquiri, or dancing to live music in the sun. One of the standout features of Foodies Festival is its international street food offering, and it doesn't disappoint this year. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here The first stop on my foodie journey was Truffle World, an independent gem that had travelled all the way from Brighton for its very first Cardiff appearance. The stall boasted a luxurious range of Italian truffle products that Joanna, one of the founders, kindly talked me through. Their collection spans everything from truffle powders and spices to truffle oils, butters, vinegars, sauces, and even alcohol . Crowds enjoy the sunshine on the first day of Cardiff's food festival (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) While I'll admit I'm usually more of a garlic mayo than gourmet mushroom sauces kind of girl, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed their summer chunky mushroom truffle. It delivered a warm, nutty richness that lingered on the palate in the best possible way. The bold choice prompted me to sample the other truffle sauces that Joanna was offering. Article continues below Everything they sell is ready to use — no cooking required. "You can put truffle on pretty much anything," Joanna added. "It's incredible on popcorn, sweetcorn, mashed potatoes, or chips. Our truffle powder is probably the most versatile." Joanna explained the difference between their signature black truffle sauce, which has a more woody and earthy taste, and the elusive white truffle, prized for its delicate, garlicky flavour. "We try to keep things healthy," she added, gesturing to their extra virgin olive oil — a favourite among their Brighton customers. "You can put it on everything — roast dinners, chips, steak, even just bread." This might be a pricier option for visitors, with prices starting at £9 for a small jar truffle mushroom sauce while larger jars of pure truffle spice can fetch up to a mindboggling £98 . The first day of the Foodies Festival was a hit (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Next up was the Gower Bakery, run by pastry chef, Heidi; the perfect stop if you've got a sweet tooth. Originally from Finland and trained there as a chef, Heidi specialises in handmade macarons, tarts and cakes, though for this festival it was just her macarons that made the appearance. She told me that she moved to the Gower ten years ago and decided to take the plunge into running her own bakery. "This is my first time at any festival," Heidi said, clearly a little nervous. "I've just started turning a profit, so it's a big step." Running the Gower Bakery entirely on her own, Heidi's stall was smaller and more subdued than others, but her macarons were a true testament to her skill. The star of her range was the apple pie macaron - bright green in colour, delicately spiced and surprisingly nostalgic. "It's been really popular," she shared with a smile. "People like that little twist, it's different and you can't get it everywhere." Some delicious options presented by owner of Gower Bakery, Heidi Heikkila (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) As this was my very first macaron, I decided to play it safe with a vanilla bean flavour — a choice Heidi assured me was spot on. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The texture was soft on the outside and spongy on the inside, slightly chewy with a clear, authentic vanilla flavour that was sweet but not overwhelming. Priced at £2 each, this may be seen as a bit of a treat. I will say that the sweetness was just right, making it the perfect treat to snack on while I continued exploring the festival. I certainly couldn't have eaten more than a couple, but it was just the right amount to satisfy my sweet craving as I continued to enjoy all the other offerings at the festival. The prices at Gower Bakery (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) There's no shortage of international flair at this year's Foodies Festival — something that adds real depth to the event's street food credentials. From Greek Traditional Souvlaki, dishing up tender grilled meat with tzatziki and warm pita, to Middle Eastern Street Food and the ever-popular Happy Dumplings, it's like walking through a map of global flavours. As expected for a festival of this scale, pricing was fairly standard across the board. Most hearty street food meals sat between £11 and £15, depending on how adventurous your palate (and wallet) felt. Lots of foodie options available at this year's festival (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) At Simsim, a vibrant Mediterranean street food stall, you can tuck into flavour-packed falafel wraps for £11, with vegan and vegetarian options available. And for any Avengers fans out there — yes, they serve shawarma wraps, alongside loaded fries, both also priced at £11. Right next door, Poutine Punks brings a taste of Canada with their take on the country's national dish: crispy French fries, gooey cheese curds, and rich brown gravy, all for a very reasonable £10. If you're feeling bold, you can upgrade to one of their "punked-up" versions for up to £12.50 — think maple streaky bacon, spicy sausage, or crispy chicken strips, available as extras from £1 to £4. Poutine offers a taste of Canada's "National dish" (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Another mouthwatering stop is the Fontmell BBQ Steakhouse, serving up tender pulled meat buns stacked inside toasted brioche, topped with homemade slaw and a punchy gherkin. The beef brisket with chimichurri comes in at £8.50, while the pulled pork with BBQ sauce and the vegan jackfruit alternative are both a tasty steal at £8 each. Double Double Smash Burgers also offered some delicious options, perfect for a sunny weekend (Image: Lois McCarthy ) Meanwhile, I went for the crown for comfort food with the classic Loaded Fries and Nachos stand, run by a helpful crew who had come down from Scotland for their first ever Welsh festival. I went with their BBQ chicken loaded fries — a mountain of skin-on chips smothered in tangy sauce, breaded chicken, and cheese. It was rich, filling, and ideal for soaking up the festival atmosphere (and the sun). I decided to try out the loaded fries - at one of the various vendors (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) At £12 a bowl, the portion was more than generous, though the BBQ sauce was strong enough to drown out the cheese a little. For the adventurous, there was even a haggis and peppercorn sauce version on offer — a step too far for me, but intriguing all the same. All their loaded fries priced at £12 but if you fancy a plain option, their skin on fries are just £5. Under the sunshine, festival-goers sprawled out on blankets, sipping drinks and bopping along to a soundtrack of Cher, Madonna and other upbeat anthems drifting from the live music stage. It's here that the drinks options truly shine — with stalls pouring everything from craft beer and fruity cider to prosecco and premium cocktails. Prices, as expected for an outdoor festival, sat slightly higher than your local pub — with beers averaging around £7 a pint, cocktails at £9, and wine £8 per glass. That said, you do get a reusable plastic cup to keep as a festival souvenir, which felt like a bit of a fair trade-off. The drinks menu with price list at Cardiff Foodie Festival (Image: Lois McCarthy ) But if you really want to sip in style, I can't recommend Sloshies enough. Run by Cheltenham duo Alex and Sarah, the stall specialises in frozen cocktails. Born from their time working bars at Glastonbury, Sloshies has quickly evolved into a travelling festival hit. "They were flying off the shelves," Alex smiled. "I thought — why not turn this into a full business?" The stall specialises in frozen versions of classic cocktails that are sure to quench your thirst — including favourites like the Pornstar Martini, Strawberry Woo Woo, and Classic Margarita. Each drink is priced at £9.50 — just 50p more than your average festival cocktail and about on par with what you'd expect to pay in a bar around Cardiff. But with the added bonus of icy refreshment on a warm day, it's money well spent. Although Alex recommended the Classic Margarita, I decided to try the Strawberry Woo Woo and I have to say, I was immediately sold. It was fruity, refreshing, and just boozy enough to give it a kick — though I could've easily finished two without noticing the alcohol. In other words, dangerously drinkable. Next, I headed to Happy Dumpling 365, admittedly because I was very curious, having never tasted a dumpling before. I was warmly greeted by Jean, daughter of business owner Lian, who proudly told me all their dumplings are homemade and come in a variety of flavours — chicken, pork, vegan, and gluten-free options included. The family-run business, originally from Monmouth, is in the thick of its busiest season yet, with St Ives lined up as their next stop. I opted for the chicken dumpling, and it was a revelation. The outside was beautifully crisp and golden, while the inside was tender, juicy, and flavourful — not too heavy, but still completely satisfying. You can grab six tasty dumplings for £9, 10 dumplings with "core filling" for £14 and 10 mixed dumplings for £15. They were filling so I personally saw this as a good deal! Jean preparing homemade dumplings for guests at Happy Dumpling 365 (Image: Lois McCarthy ) To round off the day, I couldn't resist trying The Highland Crispy Duck, another veteran of the Foodies Festival circuit. Having recently rebranded, they were clearly thrilled to be back. Their crispy duck wrap was a showstopper: generously filled with shredded duck, cucumber, spring onion, and a rich hoisin sauce. It was a little messy on the walk round, as it is so full and the wrap itself is quite large but the flavours were spot on and for £12 it was a solid choice. A chunky wrap filled with crispy duck to finish the day (Image: Lois McCarthy ) For my final verdict... there's something special about Foodies Festival Cardiff. Yes, the food is excellent — diverse, adventurous, and often surprising. Yes, the live music lifts the vibe with real festival spirit. But it's the unexpected discoveries — like apple pie macaroons and slushy cocktails — that make it a must-visit. Scouting for Girls are set to headline the main stage tonight, following an electric opening night from Symphonic Ibiza on Friday. The Wanted 2.0 will close the weekend in style on Sunday, a fitting finale to a weekend full of food, flavour, and feel-good tunes. Scouting for Girls and the Wanted 2.0 are set to headline this very stage, this weekend (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Whether you're here for the pulled meat buns, loaded fries, or to dance under the setting sun to the nostalgic hits of Scouting for Girls, there's something to fall in love with around every corner of Bute Park this weekend. This year's Foodies Festival is bursting with flavour. While local street food is the star of the show, there's a full banquet of experiences to dig into. Budding chefs and food lovers should head to the Chefs' Theatre, where some of the UK's top culinary talents are cooking live, sharing techniques, tips, and a few laughs along the way. This is the start of a three day event, right in the heart of Cardiff (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Article continues below Expect appearances from Great British Menu favourites Tommy Heaney and James & Georgia Sommerin, plus the skilled Hayley Tulley of Bake Off: The Professionals, each bringing their own flair to the demo stage and making it just as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the appetite. The Foodies Festival opens its gates at 11am on both Saturday and Sunday. While Saturday tickets have sold out online, there's still a chance to grab Sunday passes, with adult tickets starting at £23, young adults (12-16) at £8, and children under 12 at £5. If you're hoping for a spontaneous foodie day out, it's worth heading to the gate, limited tickets may still be available on the door.
Wales Online
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I'm still finding sand everywhere after Tunes on the Bay but it's worth it
I'm still finding sand everywhere after Tunes on the Bay but it's worth it I went to Swansea's first ever beach festival and here's what I thought. Watching Scouting for Girls perform made my inner child so happy (Image: Indigo Jones ) When I first heard that there would be a new festival held in my hometown of Swansea I couldn't wait to see how it would work, who would be performing. and more importantly would the weather hold out for three days of outdoor music on the beach. Thankfully the weather was gorgeous as we marked the first ever Tunes on the Bay festival on Swansea beach. It saw headline performances from McFly and Supergrass as well as more than 40 other acts taking the stage from Friday to Sunday. The festival took place on the beach itself, just outside the Secret Bar and Kitchen located in Mumbles Road, and had two stages spread out across the sand. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . As we walked down to the festival I found a big problem with the event being held on the beach – sand. Okay – yes it was obvious there was going to be loads of sand at a beach festival, I'm not stupid, but I thought there would be platforms to walk on to make walking on the sand more accessible. Unfortunately there weren't any and that's when my day of trudging through the sand began. It seemed I wasn't the only one struggling as the people around me complained about the difficulty of walking through the dunes to get from one side of the site to the other. It was especially difficult when all of the toilets were at the entrance and the stage was the opposite end of the site making it quite a hard walk back and forth. Inevitably this led to men peeing on the barriers because they couldn't be bothered to do the long walk to the loos. Article continues below I'm still finding sand everywhere after the event and that is in part due to the fact that there wasn't a whole load of seating available there meaning the only option was to sit on the floor. Unfortunately a couple of days before the event they said we couldn't bring any camping chairs and maybe as this was a last-minute announcement they weren't prepared with seating available on site. Fortunately the weather was nice so sitting on the sand was an option although unfortunately I found sand in places you shouldn't find sand. With the sun beating down it was a shame to see that there wasn't really any shelter, which on a sunny weekend was a struggle although the festival did provide water stations which was an extreme relief. In terms of drinks costs pints were priced at £7.50, a spirit and a mixer cost £8 for a single or £10 for a double, and cans of pop were £3. They also charged £2 for a reusable cup but I do think that these were a great addition to the weekend as it encouraged reuse rather than waste and also allowed people to use the cups in the water station if needed. Mixtons cocktails were expensive but very refreshing (Image: Indigo Jones ) There were numerous drinks vendors and not just the bar itself including Swansea's own Au Vodka and a bar selling cocktails in a hollowed-out pineapple. I tried a dragon mojo cocktail from the cocktail vendors Mixtons and despite setting me back £9 it was exactly what I needed on a warm day. It was incredibly refreshing and quenched my thirst perfectly just before seeing my favourite acts. I was disappointed to see a lack of local food vendors knowing there are great independent local food businesses in the area like Pizza Boys and Vegan Filth to name a few. We settled for a chicken gyro from the Greek Gyros stall and it tasted really nice but it was a whopping £13 for what felt like very little food. My £13 chicken gyro (Image: Indigo Jones ) The festival also featured a vintage shop and merchandise stall, which I thought was actually quite reasonably priced at £25 for a T-shirt. There was also a convenience store, which I thought was so clever. They sold snacks and even toys for the little ones in attendance and I even saw people buy water pistols which were a great idea on such a hot weekend. It seemed like the highlight for many people this weekend was the silent disco. Families and friends gathered together to dance in what seemed like silence but donning massive headphones which were playing iconic bangers. It seemed to be consistently full all day and ended up having queues to go in. The silent disco seemed like an absolute hit (Image: Indigo Jones ) As s omeone who doesn't have kids I can't really comment on the family elements of the festival although it did seem that the families I did see really enjoyed the event. However from the point of a view of someone in their 20s I think it was a really good event for people who live locally who want a day out down the beach with their friends. In true Swansea fashion I saw so many people I knew there and they were so excited to get a couple of drinks in and have a boogie in the sun. I won't lie – before going to the festival I was completely sceptical about how they were going to be able to have two stages so close together. Surely you would hear music from one while watching a performance at the other? Thankfully it actually worked really well. Closer to the entrance there was a smaller marquee (very grateful for some shelter) that hosted up-and-coming performers as well as some tribute acts and on the other side of the event was the main stage. It allowed audiences to bounce back and forth from stage to stage to see who they wanted to perform. My absolute highlight of the weekend had to be the performances by Scouting for Girls and McFly – they were outstanding and full of energy and filled me with such nostalgia. The crowd was on fire and went wild dancing and singing at the top of their lungs to the bands. Honestly it has to be one of the best gigs I have been to and definitely made my inner child extremely happy. You can read my review of McFly here. McFly headlined the first night (Image: Indigo Jones ) Article continues below In terms of this year's line-up Tunes on the Bay have definitely set the standard and I think they'll find it incredibly hard to top an energetic headline act like McFly next year. With this in mind if I were to attend the festival again I think the headliner would have to be someone I really want to watch live and it would have to have one hell of a line-up. However I'd like to emphasise 'watch live' because otherwise I think I'd be inclined to do what about 10% of Swansea's residents did and sit on the beach outside of the venue. You can still hear the live music but this time you can bring your own food and drink which will cost a fraction of the price and also enjoy skipping the long queues and the cost of the tickets.
Wales Online
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I'm a McFly superfan and their Tunes on the Bay headline set left me speechless
I'm a McFly superfan and their Tunes on the Bay headline set left me speechless McFly's headline gig has set the standard for the future of Tunes on the Bay performers McFly headlined the first night of Swansea first ever beach festival, Tunes on the Bay (Image: Indigo Jones ) I've grown up with McFly's music. I distinctly remember being five years old and dancing to Five Colours in Her Hair and wanting to be the girl that they sang about. Fast forward and now I am 25 and watching McFly perform in my home town of Swansea, headlining the first ever Tunes on the Bay festival. The sun was beating down, the sand was under my feet, and I was transformed back in time to the early noughties and the nostalgia hit me. The band followed Scouting for Girls on the line-up and came out to an extra-dramatic version of the Village People classic YMCA, before rocking out with one of their more recent tracks Where Did All the Guitars Go? From superstar gigs to cosy pubs find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here. Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Harry Judd, and Dougie Poynter were all on form as they walked on stage ready to rock the audience of Swansea beach. Danny was the first to speak, saying: "Are you ready Swansea?" The festival marked their first gig of their summer tour and they described Swansea as "a beautiful place". In all honesty I was in awe as I couldn't believe that one of my favourite bands growing up were right in front of me. They played all the classic songs including Obviously, One for the Radio, Shine a Light, and one of my personal favourites Star Girl, where they made sure to do their signature moves dancing across the stage together with their guitars. Article continues below The band dedicated the song All About You to a fan from Port Talbot who they met in a service station the previous day (Image: Indigo Jones ) One of the highlights of the night had to be when they dedicated a song to Joel, a TikTok sensation from Port Talbot who shows how amazing people with Down's Syndrome are. The band bumped in to Joel the day before in a service station and as a result they dedicated the song All About You, saying it's: "All about Joel". It was an incredibly touching moment and showed how kind and considerate the band are to their fans. The audience sang along to each lyric in tandem to one of McFly's biggest songs as Joel and his family were overwhelmed by the gesture. Another great moment from the show involved a mash-up of iconic song covers including Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer, the Village People's YMCA, Queen's Radio Gaga, and finally The Beatles' Twist and Shout. The band and the audience were all united in singing the lyrics and doing the famous dances for each song. I would have loved if the band interacted with the audience a little bit more although they obviously only had a set amount of time and wanted to squeeze in as many fan favourite songs as possible. However Dougie did joke at one point by asking the audience to all put their middle fingers up to his bandmate Tom. Ultimately this showed that in reality they are just a bunch of mates who have become famous for making music together and are now just messing about on stage for audiences to see. This also happens to be what makes them so loveable and relatable because realistically don't we all just want to be making money from enjoying ourselves and pratting about with our pals? They ended on my childhood favourite song, Five Colours in Her Hair, which saw the audience go absolutely wild – myself included. I felt like a child again, dancing with my friends until the point we gave ourselves a headache, which is always the sign of a good time and maybe a sign that I am also getting older. In that moment everyone in the audience were screaming at the top of their lungs and jumping around like they were possessed – and in a way they were as they were possessed by the nostalgia with the audience overrun by people who grew up with McFly's music. The band ended on Five Colours in Her Hair before throwing guitar picks, drum sticks, and even a sweaty towel in to the audience (Image: Indigo Jones ) Article continues below The band were fantastic and I think Tunes on the Bay are going to struggle to find a headline act that can match or even exceed their energy and performance. They have really set the standard for not just the rest of the weekend of the festival, which will see Supergrass headlining on Saturday, but also for the future of the festival. As someone who grew up in the early noughties to hear the songs of my childhood being played live in my hometown with my friends by my side left me speechless – and, trust me, that takes a lot.
