Flagship event takes gold again

Shropshire Festivals has won Tourism Event/Festival of the Year at the 2026 West Midlands Tourism Awards for their flagship event – Shrewsbury Food Festival - the third year running that the business has scooped gold.

Shrewsbury Food Festival is an annual event in the town’s Quarry Park, which champions local independent producers, chefs, performers, and businesses. It happens across two days on the last weekend in June.

The event hosts around 200 food, drink, and homeware exhibitors, chef demonstrations, kids’ cookery school, a live music stage, a family entertainment stage, a field to fork area, VIP tent, corporate party tipis, and a whole area of free kids' activities.

The awards from Visit England, celebrate the accomplishments of tourism businesses across the West Midlands region and promote the venues, people, experiences, and accommodation in the region. They are supported by the West Midlands Tourism and Hospitality Advisory Board (THAB) and the West Midlands Growth Company.

Shropshire Festivals’ owners Beth and Sid Heath collected their award at The Belfry Hotel & Spa. Beth said: "So much goes into building a festival that most people don't see - time, effort, planning, and money, plus a fair amount of blood, sweat and tears - all driving Shrewsbury Food Festival forward for the last 13 years. I'm so proud to work with such a brilliant team that made the dream a reality.

“Thanks to our hard-working team, plus every exhibitor, supplier, staff member, volunteer, sponsor, visitor, performer, chef, and the many unofficial ambassadors who shout about what we do at Shropshire Festivals. We’re a small, family-run team that genuinely does this to spread smiles. Recognition on this level means a great deal.” 

Shrewsbury Food Festival is taking place on June 27 and 28 this year and tickets are available to purchase online.