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Big Banquet returns to Caldicot Castle

Credit: Huw John

Street food and circus festival, the Big Banquet, is returning to Caldicot Castle for the August Bank Holiday Weekend.

After a successful launch weekend in May, Big Banquet will be bringing flavours from around the world from some Wales’ best-known and up-and-coming street food chefs – all centred around a gravity-defying high-wire act.

The Big Banquet will run across the summer bank holiday weekend from Friday 25 August to Monday 28 August. As well as the street food and high-wire shows, visitors can expect walkabout circus performers, a free circus school for kids, fire shows from the Pembrokeshire Fire Spinners and live DJ sets.

Credit: Huw John

The range of food on offer includes a British St Food Award Winner and a Bake Off the Professionals winner in the line up, with a diversity of cuisines represented including a Feasts from the East zone, Mexican Kitchens zone, Festival Favourites and a Dessert Island.

The full food line up includes (on rotation across the weekend):

  • Fire & Flank – Argentinian steak & frites – British St Food Award Winner
  • Two Lads – Afghan BBQ & fire cooking
  • Pot Heads – baked, stacked and loaded fire-roasted potatoes
  • Bare Bones Pizza – wood-fired pizza
  • Pasta Al Sugo – homemade Italian pasta

Feasts From The East

  • Nomad Kitchen – Pan-Asian fusion
  • Keralan Karavan – South Indian flavour bombs
  • Mama Tiger – North Indian street food

Festival Favourites

  • Smokin’ Griddle – king of the burgers
  • Captain Joys – vegan burgers
  • Kindle – The Fried Chicken Wing Chronicles
  • The Bone Cartel – fried chicken, strips and sides

Mexican Kitchens

  • Sin Nombre Fire Cook – fresh ingredients, fresh flavours
  • El Cabrón Tacos – Mexican street kitchen vibes

Dessert Island

  • Minto’s Patisserie – Bake Off The Professionals 2021 Winner
  • Second Chance Coffee – barista for your coffee finale
  • Pwdin – sweets, puddings and ice cream
  • Church Of Churros – buckets of churros to share

Drinks on offer include Newport’s Tiny Rebel craft beer bar, the Applecart Cider Bar and the Street Food Circus mixologists’ Lola’s Cocktail bar.

Street Food Circus founder and ‘ringmaster’ Matt ‘the Hat’ explained:

“We were blown away by the welcome we received for our first visit to Caldicot Castle in May. The setting in the castle grounds, under and around the big top, is the perfect fit for our mix of circus show and street food feasting.

“Once again we’re bringing the best of Welsh street food to Caldicot and we’re excited to give people the chance to experience flavours from around the world all in one very special place.

“Our high wire act, Chris Bullzini, blew people away with his daring and skill last time and we are thrilled he’s joining us again so that more people can see him in action. As well as the high wire, we’ve got lots to keep the little ones entertained – from circus skills to marshmallow-toasting – for adults we’ve got a great cocktail bar and DJs, and we’re dog friendly, so the whole family is welcome!

“We sold out for most of the sessions last time round, so we’re advising people to book ahead, and book early for what’s going to be a great end to the summer holidays,” he said.

Tickets are available for the Big Banquet at thebigbanquet.uk/ with two sessions (daytime and evening) available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and one daytime session on Bank Holiday Monday. Tickets are £5 plus booking fee and kids’ tickets are free.

Street Food Circus is a collective of creative event producers who run an annual programme of street food festivals across South Wales including Cardiff’s Roath Yard, Bridgend’s Forest Feastival and Carmarthen’s Street Food Cinema.

Dates and Times:

Friday Sessions

  • 11am – 4pm | 4:30pm – 10pm

Saturday Sessions:

  • 11am – 4pm | 4:30pm – 10pm

Sunday Sessions:

  • 11am – 4pm | 4:30pm – 10pm

Monday Session:

  • 11am – 5pm

Location: Caldicot Castle, Church Rd, Caldicot NP26 4HU – five minutes from Caldicot railway station.