Taste Cumbria Cockermouth

Taste Cumbria’s flagship festival in Cockermouth!

Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September 2024

It’s a date fixed in every food lover’s calendar – the flagship Taste Cumbria festival is back in Cockermouth on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September 2024.

A great range of attractions are on the menu, giving visitors the chance to eat, drink, shop and explore.

There will be all the things you’ve come to expect from the biggest Taste Cumbria event which has been a firm favourite in the county’s event calendar since 2010. It was created to keep Cockermouth on the map following massive floods which devastated the town centre.

Here’s a taste of the fabulous festival line-up – all of this is FREE to attend and ticketed events will be announced closer to the time:

  • Producers’ stalls
  • Street party on Market Place
  • Drinks tent and outdoor picnic area with live music all weekend
  • Hot food court
  • Cookery demonstrations
  • Fairground rides 
  • Children’s activities

Traders – apply for a stall here: https://forms.office.com/e/h5kvTqTKAr

Other 2024 dates for your diary

Taste Cumbria Wigton – 22 April 2024

Taste Cumbria Maryport 10 & 11 August 2024

Taste Cumbria Christmas in Cockermouth – 7 & 8 December 2024

TRADERS: YOU WILL BE RECEIVING AN EMAIL TONIGHT (THURSDAY) WITH NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR LEAVING THE FESTIVAL AT THE END OF THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

It’s a date fixed in every food lover’s calendar – the flagship Taste Cumbria festival is back in Cockermouth on Saturday 23 September 2023.

A great range of attractions are on the menu, giving visitors the chance to eat, drink and explore.

There will be all the things you’ve come to expect from the biggest Taste Cumbria event which has been a firm favourite in the county’s event calendar since 2010. It was created to keep Cockermouth on the map following massive floods which devastated the town centre.

Here’s a taste of the fabulous festival line-up – all of this is FREE to attend and details of two ticketed events  – a Supper Club and Cocktail Masterclass – are below.

  • Stalls
  • Street party on Market Place
  • Drinks tent and outdoor picnic area with live music all weekend
  • Hot food court
  • The demo stage with some great local chefs
  • Fairground rides 
  • Children’s activities

Images copyright Tom Kay Photographic. phototom@gmail.com

The September 2022 Festival Fast Guide

Saturday 24th September

10:00am – 5:00pm – Main Street – Producers’ Market
10:00am onwards – Market Place – Street Party
10:00am – 8:00pm – Memorial Gardens Car Park – Tractor Shed Brewing Bar, Kindred Spirit Cocktails and Hot Food Court with live music
10:00am – 8:00pm – Memorial Gardens – fairground rides
10:00am – 5:00pm – The Vicky, High Sand Lane – children’s activities with Rainbow Wishes Foundation
6:00pm – Quiz Night with Steffen Peddie
6:00pm – Supper Club @Cockermouth Cricket Club

Sunday 25th September

10:00am – 4:00pm – Main Street – Producers’ Market
10:00am – onwards – Market Place – Street Party
10:00am – 4:00pm – Memorial Gardens – Tractor Shed Brewing Bar, Kindred Spirit Cocktails and Hot Food Court with live music
10:00am – 4:00pm – Memorial Gardens – fairground rides
10:00am – 4:00pm – The Vicky, High Sand Lane – children’s activities with Rainbow Wishes Foundation

The Taste Cumbria Demonstration Stage, September 2022

Saturday 24th September

11am – 11:30am – Peter Sidwell – TV chef, author and presenter
12pm – 12:30pm – Daniel Winstanley – development chef English Lakes Hotels
1pm – 1:30pm – Jon Fell – executive chef, Osprey Inns
2pm – 2:30pm – Peter Sidwell – TV chef, author and presenter
3pm – 3:30pm – Victor Nwosu of Wiga Wagaa – creative chilli specialist
4pm – 4:30pm – Cumbria Distilling Co. – cocktail specialists & creators of Carlisle Gin

Sunday 25th September

11am – 11:30am – John Crouch – Wigton’s demonstration chef
12:00 – 12:30pm – Peter Sidwell – TV chef, author and presenter
1pm – 1:30pm – Irini Tzortzoglou – winner of MasterChef 2019
2pm – 2:30pm – Jon Fell – executive chef, Osprey Inns
3pm – 3:30pm – Daniel Winstanley – development chef English Lakes Hotels

Fairground & Live Music

Wakefield Road Car Park will have Wilmotts Fairground rides, hot food court, picnic area, Tractor Shed drinks tent, live music stage and cocktail van. See music times below:

Saturday 24th September

11am – 12pm – Chelsea Reynolds
12:30pm – 1:30pm – Pecker
2pm – 3pm – Logan Paul Murphy
3:30pm – 4:30pm – Gary Jackson
5pm – 6pm – Mojo Rising

Sunday 25th September

12pm – 1pm – Chelsea Reynolds
1:30pm – 2:30pm – Phil Lewthwaite
3pm – 4pm – The Mustangz

Children’s Activities, September 2022

There’s always fun for all the family at Taste Cumbria in Cockermouth.
All day on Saturday and Sunday, The Vicky shared workspace on High Sand Lane (down the side of The New Bookshop) will host foodie crafts and games with Rainbow Wishes Foundation.

Then, over on Memorial Gardens Car Park, next to the Tractor Shed Drinks in the Festival Marquee and Hot Food Court, there will be fairground rides from Wilmotts Funfair, and there will be crazy street theatre all around the town.
Childrens’ crafts, dressing up and games with Rainbow Wishes Foundation
FREE
The Vicky, High Sand Lane – down the side of The New Bookshop, look for the red door

Street theatre, September 2022

FREE
All around the town

Fairground rides with
Willmotts Funfair, September 2022

Memorial Gardens Car Park
Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 September – 11am – 4pm

Steffen Peddie

The Tasty Quiz, September 2022

Hosted by star of the stand-up comedy circuit & BBC Radio presenter Steffen Peddie. Get your team together! The winning team will take home a local food & drink hamper!

Saturday 24th September 7:00pm

Location – Christ Church, Sullart Street, Cockermouth

Chef Alec

Supper Club with Chef Alec Anderson

Includes a welcome drink on arrival, a three course meal and a gift to take home. The bar will be open to buy additional drinks.

Friday 22nd September 6:30pm

Location – Cockermouth Cricket Club

Cocktail Masterclass
with Cumbria Distilling Co.

Learn to make four fabulous cocktails with the expert team from Cumbria Distilling Co. Learn the tips of the trade in this hands-on masterclass – and drink your tasty creations too!

Saturday 23rd September 5:30pm – 7:00pm

Location – Cockermouth Kitchen Company, Market Place

Live music @ the Acoustic Stage, Market Place, September 2022

Acoustic music corner with local acts sourced by ‘Rock With’. See times below:

Saturday 24th September

11am – Ella Grayce
12pm – Ryan Davidson 
1pm – Alex Freitas 
2pm – Phil Lewthwaite
3pm – Rina

Sunday 25th September

12pm – Ella Grayce 
1pm – Alex Freitas 
2pm – Ryan Davidson 
3pm – Joe Lush

Live music @ the Festival Marquee, Memorial Gardens Car Park, September 2022

Saturday 24th September

11:00am – Chelsea Reynolds
12:30pm – Pecker
2:00pm – Logan Paul Murphy, The Beatles Boy
3:30pm – Gary Jackson
5:00pm – Peter Wilson
6.30pm – Harry Stephenson

Sunday 25th September

12:00pm – Chelsea Reynolds
1:30pm – Phil Lewthwaite
3:00pm – The Mustangz

Special thanks to our event sponsors

... and thank you to our event supporters

Getting here

The nearest mainline train station is Penrith. Connecting buses take about an hour to transport you to Cockermouth. Alternatively, arrive via Carlisle Railway Station, then take the train to Workington, then the X4 or X5 bus, or a taxi. If you are travelling by car, leave the M6 at junction 40, take the A66 west and you should be here in 40 minutes. For bus timetables throughout Cumbria click here.

Parking

If you’re coming to our festivals by car, here’s a handy link to some of the car parks in Cockermouth. If you’re parking on the street, please check local signs for restrictions. You’ll need a timing disc to park at the roadside – these are available from local businesses. A new festival ‘Park & Stroll’ is available on land adjacent to Lloyd BMW, and at the rear of the Lakes Home Centre, on Low Road – postcode CA130HH. (Please don’t use the store car park as it is reserved for their customers.)

Explore

Why not make a weekend of it by booking some accommodation? There is an excellent range of places to stay – from hotels, campsites and glamping, to B&Bs and self catering – in and around Cockermouth, and throughout the entire Cumberland area. You can also find out more about the area and discover the wealth of independent businesses on the Cockermouth Town website. Eat, drink, shop and explore!

Free fun on offer

Most of the attractions at the Taste Cumbria festivals are free to enjoy. There is no charge for the expert demonstrations on the Demo Stage, or for the street theatre, children’s activities and arts and crafts workshops. A small number of events are ticketed and there is a also charge for the fairground rides. Keep up to date with everything that’s happening on Facebook or Twitter, where you can also discover the other Taste Cumbria festivals.

Insider information

Event tickets

Taste Cumbria Cockermouth - Comedy Night

Cocktail Masterclass at Tithe Tap

Taste of Lakes Distillery, Spirit Tasting evening