Celebrity chef signs up for Steyning & District Food & Drink Festival 2026 and local businesses offer packed programme of events and special offers
A celebrity chef will be giving a cooking demonstration and serving a seasonal Italian lunch as part of the Steyning & District Food & Drink Festival 2026.
The festival is packed with events and special offers, with highlights including Valentina Harris visiting Wiston, a French-inspired supper and a Festival Curry Buffet.
Organisers launched this year's festival at The White Horse in Steyning on Wednesday, August 12, explaining it is designed to be a celebration of local food and drink.
Reina Alston, director and vice-chair of Steyning & District Community Partnership, said: “This is an event to encourage people to visit our area, plus bring enjoyment to our residents, but it also backs and encourages the message 'buy local, shop local', and that's what we're all about.
“We really are proud of what we have achieved this year in quite a short space of time, with just six people on the team. This is a fantastic example of a community-driven event, because everybody has to put something into it.
“We want to thank all the business in High Street and beyond for providing the great events and offers, all the generous sponsors and, obviously, the hard-working and dedicated team that put everything in place.
“We start on September 5 with Steyning Farmer's Market and close on September 13 with the Street Food Piazza. In between, we've got many other offers – 25 to be precise – and 30 events, so loads of choice. It's nine days of having a great time.
“Plus, we have a few events outside the official dates, because they were very much in our ethos of a community-type event, and we wanted to welcome them on board.”
The 'starters' include a beer festival at The Rising Sun from August 28 to 30, and 'afters' include a charity coffee morning at Ashurst Village Hall on October 2 in aid of St Barnabas House hospice in Worthing.
Visit steyningdistrictfooddrinkfestival.co.uk for the full programme of events and offers, and pick up a flyer from local businesses.
Tasting events are being held at The Sussex Grocer, Vintage & Home, Awen and Old Bank Interiors, Wiston has a wine tour, there are workshops and demonstrations, meals and celebrations. Offers include discounts and free gifts.