2026 Event Info
This information is correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change as event plans develop. Please check back regularly for the most up to date information.
Opening Hours
10:00am – 11:00pm Fri 24th April 2026
10:00am – 11:00pm Sat 25th April 2026
10:00am – 11:00pm Sun 26th April 2026
Please note that different areas of the festival operate at different times.
Craft & Market Traders: 10am – 7pm
Hot Food Traders: 10am – 9pm
Chef’s Theatre: 10am – 6pm*
Evening Sessions / Supper Clubs: 7pm – 11:00pm*
Shipyard Stage: 10am – 9:00pm*
*Please see our website for content schedules which vary day by day.
Address
Harbour Head, Porthleven, Helston, Cornwall. TR13 9JY.
Evening Sessions
The Evening Sessions live music entertainment is located on the Harbour Head (where the Chef’s Theatre is held by day). You’ll need a ticket to join the fun, from 7pm on Friday and Saturday, which you can purchase online or upon entry at the box office. Once you have your wristband for the evening / weekend, you may come and go as you please. Alcohol may not be brought in or out of our Evening Sessions, regardless of where it was purchased.
Supper Clubs
Tickets must be purchased via our website in advance, and printed or digital codes will be scanned upon entry. Supper Clubs will take place in the Shipyard Market building this year and start at 19:30 sharp!
Masterclasses
Tickets must be purchased via our website in advance, and printed or digital codes will be scanned upon entry. Masterclasses will take place in the Chef’s Table venue next door to The Lime Kiln on Mount Pleasant Road.
Camping
The festival does not have its own campsite however camping and facilities are available locally here.
Cash
We strive to offer cashless facilities on our bars. However, it is strongly advised that you bring cash to the event. Some food traders may not be able to accept cashless payments, and technical difficulties do occur. There is only one cash point in Porthleven and it runs out of cash quickly.
Ticket Enquiries
Our ticketing partner is Eventcube. Please note that your ticket will be digital and physical copies will not be posted to you. If you have any questions about your ticket please contact Eventcube’s customer support.
Accessibility
If you have any accessibility requirements and would like to attend the event, please contact customer support with your requirements prior to booking a ticket. We will liaise with you directly and do our best to assist you in these requirements. We can provide companion/carer tickets if arranged in advance. Please note that if you do not discuss your requirements with us before the event, we may not have the resources we need to assist you.
Locked and clean accessible toilet facilities are available at the on-site medical centre and at the Festival Angels on the harbour head.
Food & Drink
You are welcome to bring your own food and drink to the event, but we encourage you instead to support the festival by shopping with our independent traders and bars, alongside enjoying what Porthleven based restaurants and businesses have to offer.
Under regular licensing restrictions, alcohol cannot be brought into licensed areas.
Facilities
We have a wide selection of fully licensed bars, cocktails, independent food vendors, festival stalls, craft markets, produce markets, children’s entertainment, food and drink masterclasses, supper clubs, live chef demos and many other attractions.
Baby changing facilities are available at the Festival Angels bus stop on the Harbour Head.
Dogs
The festival can get very busy, so we recommend that you do not bring your furry friends. If you do decide to bring a dog, please be aware that they are not permitted inside marquees or tented areas except for registered guide dogs – this includes the Chef’s Theatre where the chef’s demonstrations take place.
Families
Our day time content is suitable for children, but we request that under 18’s are always accompanied by an adult.
Under 18’s are not permitted entry to the Evening Sessions or Supper Clubs unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
The Comedy Roast could contain profanities or adult themes which may be unsuitable for children.
Prohibited Items
Upon arrival at the Evening Sessions all attendees may be subject to a security search.
Various items are prohibited to keep the event safe and to allow us to comply with the licensing objectives.
The following items are prohibited at the event:
- Food and Drink – You may not bring any of your own alcohol to the event. We will be implementing bag checks on entry to the Evening Sessions and The Shipyard.
- Glass is not permitted in ANY of our licensed areas.
- Drugs / Controlled Substances – drug searches are operational at the event entrances; any drugs will be found. Anybody in possession of any un-prescribed controlled substances will be ejected and passed on to the police. This includes new psychoactive substances or “legal highs”.
- Animals – Only registered assistance dogs are permitted in tented areas. Unfortunately, these areas are not suitable for animals.
- Dangerous items – which could include but are not limited to:
- Drones
- Glass in any form (including perfume bottles)
- Cans or metal containers
- Spray cans, gas cannisters or compressed gas in any container
- Fireworks, flares, smoke cannisters, Chinese lanterns
- Camping stoves or cooking apparatus, explosives
- Handheld communication devices such as radios, radio jammers / scanners
- Firearms, knives or blades, replica weapons of any sort, anything that could be
- Cooking equipment – Stools / camping sticks / chairs or other furniture
- Gazebos or parasols
- Sports equipment
- Flags and banners
- Megaphones, amplification equipment
- Klaxons, airhorns or other similar items capable of making loud noise
- Laser pens
- Scooters, skateboards, bicycles, trolleys
- Any other item which security may deem hazardous or dangerous to other attendees.
First Aid / Welfare
The Medical Centre can be found in The Shipyard near Shoals Brewery. It is fully equipped and manned by qualified staff. Please make yourself aware of its location as you enter the festival. If you suspect somebody is unwell, go to the Medical Centre.
If unable to attend the Medical Centre, alert a member of event staff immediately who will call for the exact help needed.
If you take any medication, remember to bring it with you and make your friends aware of any illness or allergies you may have. Look after yourself and those around you.
The Welfare area is located with the Festival Angels, on the harbour head bus stop. If you need to grab a quiet five minutes or just want someone to talk to, our Festival Angels provide a safe and non-judgemental space to do this.
Festival Bus Information
Porthleven Food Festival is operating the following park & ride bus services:
Helston Park & Ride
Transport for Cornwall will be operating a two-way direct festival park & ride service from Helston. Stops are as follows:
- Tesco’s Helston bus stop
- Flambards (Festival Park & Ride)
- Helston Seven Stars (Coinagehall St bus station)
- Fairground Carpark opposite the boating lake
- Top of Porthleven Fore Street (outside the Porthleven Barber Shop)
The Helston Park & Ride will operate on a constant loop. Buses will become less frequently after 6pm.
*Please be aware that these bus times are approximate only, due to the nature of the local country lanes, the bus can get held up by traffic at peak times.
Friday 24 April: 9am – 6pm (every 20 minutes)
Friday 24 April 6pm – 11:15pm (every 30 minutes)
Saturday 25 April: 9am – 6pm (every 15 minutes)
Saturday 25 April 6pm – 11:15pm (every 30 minutes)
Sunday 26 April: 9am – 6pm (every 20 minutes)
Sunday 26 April 6pm – 11pm (every 30 minutes)
Regional Travel
Regional buses to Porthleven will be suspended for the duration of the event, but all services to Helston will continue to operate.
For convenient public transport to the festival, we suggest using any bus to Helston and changing at either Tesco, Helston or Coinage Hall Street, Helston onto our Festival Park and Ride into Porthleven.
All Transport for Cornwall onward travel tickets will be valid for our Festival Park and Ride.
The current level of service to Helston can be viewed here: Bus timetables & maps – Transport for Cornwall
Festival Parking
Disrespectful and obstructive parking threatens the future of this free to attend community event. Your cooperation helps to ensure that we can continue to operate Porthleven Food Festival.
There will be no parking in residential areas of the town for attendees. No waiting zones and clearways will be in effect this year with constant enforcement from Cornwall Council.
All festival parking is located at Flambards, Helston and will be serviced by our robust Festival park & ride service service every 15 – 20 minutes, and takes only ten minutes to Porthleven.
Festival Parking opens at 9:00am
Accessible Parking
Limited accessible parking is located at Porthleven Football Club and Kittos Field Carpark. Charges may apply. Parking is first come first served so we recommend you arrive early if you require accessible parking.
Road Closures
Road closures will be in place along the Harbour Head, Mount Pleasant Road and Harbour Road on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Additional traffic control measures will be in place around the town and on approaches.
The important thing to remember for businesses, staff and residents is that you will be access your property and workspace as per usual, although it is useful to carry some evidence to help our staff identify residents and workers.
