FŌDA Festival: food ideas, local voices and a village of producers

Later this month, Bristol’s harbourside will come alive with ideas, flavours and conversations as FŌDA Festival takes over the Arnolfini on 27–28 September. More than just a food festival, FŌDA is about exploring how we eat today, how we’ll eat tomorrow, and the role local producers and communities play in shaping that story.

Workshops and talks

A highlight of the weekend is the symposium, hosted by food writer Xanthe Clay and Mulberry founder Roger Saul — who previously pioneered organic spelt farming and now cultivates organic walnuts at his Sharpham Park estate. The panels will explore four key themes: Salt, Fat, Acid, Sweet — not just as tastes, but as entry points into deeper food conversations:

• Salt: The effect of salt in our cooking and in our bodies
• Fat: Debunking myths around different types of fats
• Acid: Farming without chemicals — regenerative and organic approaches
• Sweet: Showcasing food community action groups and their work

Expect chefs, farmers, writers and health professionals to share fresh insights and challenge assumptions in each session.

Hands-on learning is just as central. The Sourdough Exchange, led by fermentation expert Dr Vanessa Kimbell, invites you to bake, talk and swap loaves while exploring how to bake in ways that support farmers and biodiversity, why diversity in grains matters for the gut microbiome, and insights from her research for Proven on gut and mental health. Meanwhile, the Pony Farm Bus — a converted double-decker turned into a mobile food education hub — will host family-friendly cooking workshops: Square Food Foundation will run pasta-making sessions, while The Pony leads pizza-making workshops.

Exhibitions and Food-Based Art

FŌDA also features a series of free-to-attend exhibitions, including:

• Chefs in Lockdown — a photography exhibition by John Carey
• We Feed the UK pop-up gallery
• Sweet is the Best Choice — a showcase from Ghana

Creative food-art workshops will run throughout the weekend, hosted by Let’s Make Art, including:

• Gyotaku: Traditional Japanese fish printing
• Decorate a Chef Hat
• Design Your Own Recipe Book

Meet the producers behind the food

FŌDA Festival is where good food ideas meet action. It’s a chance to taste, learn and join the conversation about the future of food. Whether you’re curious about fermentation, looking for family-friendly activities, or just want to support local producers, there’s something for you.

The best part? Entry to the Producer Village, exhibitions, and many workshops is free. 

The ticketed events:

The Sourdough Exchange on Saturday 27th September 2pm – 5pm £5 per ticket

The Symposium of Talks on Sunday 28th September 9am – 6pm:

£45 Morning Session 9:00am – 1:30pm includes 2 panels (Salt and Fat) includes breakfast by Yeo Valley

£45 Afternoon Session 1:30pm – 6:00pm includes 2 panels (Acid and Sweet) includes lunch by The Pony

£85 All day session 9:00am – 6:00pm includes all 4 panels (Salt, Fat, Acid and Sweet) includes breakfast by Yeo Valley and lunch by The Pony

Get involved! Full programme details are available at fodafestival.com

To stay updated on future events, job opportunities and news, don’t forget to sign up for the Bristol Good Food Update at bristolgoodfood.org/newsletter.