It is that time of the year again when a weekend of culinary curation and exceptional live music touches down in Verulamium Park, but what can attendees expect for 2025?
St Albans Pub in The Park begins this afternoon (September 5) with the first official "acts" performing at 5.30pm.
The popular festival is serving up a blockbuster line-up of live music, food demos, barbecue masterclasses, and star chef appearances which promises to be "bigger and better" than last year.
Find out everything you need to know about Pub in the Park below:
Where is the event?
The festival takes places at Verulamium Park in St Albans.
When is the event?
Attendees can collect their tickets from noon today (Friday 5).
On Friday, gates open at 5.30pm for an afternoon session only, finishing at 10pm.
Meanwhile on Saturday, gates open at 11.30am for the afternoon session running approximately until 4.30pm. Attendees can then be readmitted from 5.30pm onwards for the evening session which is set to conclude at 10pm.
On Sunday, gates open at 1pm for the only session of the day that is estimated to finish at 7pm.
Travel
Verulamium Park is easily accessed via public transport. Festival-goers are recommended to take buses, trains or taxi's to and from the event.
St Albans Abbey train station is nearby to the park while St Albans City Station offers trains directly to and from London.
If you're travelling and arriving by foot use this postcode - AL3 4SN.
On-site parking is limited.
What can I bring?
Chairs, wind breaks and tents are not allowed. Seating will be available around the festival.
As it is a food festival, food and drinks brought from outside the festival will not be permitted, with the exception of baby food and water.
Due to the nature of the event, pets are not allowed - only assistance dogs are welcome.
Music
Live performances will take place on three different stages - the main stage, firepit and bandstand.
Main Stage:
Friday
- Heart Club Classic with DJ Pandora - 5.30pm to 6.15pm
- Babybird - 6.30pm to 7.15pm
- Gok Wan - 7.30pm to 8.30pm
- Dizzee Rascal - 8.55pm to 10pm
Saturday (AM)
- Burr Island - 11.50am to 12.10pm
- Kay Iris - 12.25pm to 12.55pm
- Toby Anstis Club Classics DJ set - 1.10pm to 2pm
- Rick Parfitt Jnr - 2.30pm to 3.15pm
- Daniel Bedingfield - 3.45pm to 4.30pm
Saturday (PM)
- Brooke Law - 5.50pm to 6.10pm
- Matilda Pratt - 6.25pm to 6.55pm
- Judge Jules - 7.10pm to 8pm
- Ministry of Sound Classical - 8.30pm to 10pm
Sunday
- Madi C - 1.30pm to 2pm
- Reigns - 2.30pm to 3pm
- The Amy Winehouse Band - 3.30pm to 4.15pm
- Alfie Boe - 4.45pm to 5.30pm
- Squeeze - 6pm to 7pm
Bandstand
Friday
- Joy Doc - 5.40pm to 6.20pm
- Ronan - 6.10pm to 6.30pm
- Lost Chimes - 6.40pm to 7pm
- Emily Jade - 7.10pm to 7.30pm
- Mel P - 7.40pm to 8pm
- Ace - 8.10pm to 8.40pm
Saturday (AM)
- The Evening - noon to 12.20pm
- Ronniee - 12.35pm to 12.55pm
- Max Ryan - 1.10pm to 1.30pm
- Ted Osborne - 1.45pm to 2.10pm
- Brooke Law - 2.25pm to 2.45pm
Saturday PM
- Amy Brikes - 5.45pm to 6.05pm
- Steve Warner - 6.25pm to 6.45pm
- Grace McGuigan - 7.05pm to 7.20pm
- Burr Island - 7.10pm to 7.30pm
- Mosaics - 7.35pm to 7.55pm
DJ BBQ & Chops will be performing the headline slot at the Firepit Stage every evening.
Food
There is a sensational line-up of food at this year's pub in the park festival, with something for everyone.
Demos will be showcase at the Miele Kitchen Studio, Firepit Stage and the M&S Village Stage throughout the weekend, including workshops with Tom Kerridge himself.
Pub in The Park provided a list of the weekend's foodie highlights below:
- Demos from butchery pros Simon the Butcher, HG Walter, and burger kings The Beefy Boys
- Fire pit action from barbecue royalty DJ BBQ & Chops, alongside Dragon's Den champions Lumberjaxe
- Miele Kitchen Studio Stage live demos from Atul Kochhar, Adam Woodyatt (yes, Ian Beale himself will be cooking live!), viral foodie Jon Watts, and a special double-act with Tom Kerridge & Jon Watts
- Saturday Kitchen favourites Matt Tebbutt and wine expert Helen McGinn also join the demo line-up
- Culinary maverick George Egg (The Snackhacker) brings his inventive food hacks to the stage
- The unmissable Ginger Wings Hot Wing Challenge and Andy Clarke's Cocktail Chaos
Recommended dishes include:
- Temper's Coal Roasted Sweet Potato Taco
- Riwaz by Atul Kochhar's Samosa Chaat
- Ginger Wings' Duck Nut—a fried chicken and doughnut combo you'll never forget
- Dylan's at The King's Arms' gourmet cheeseburger
- The Bombay Potato Vada Pao from the award-winning Incredible Spicemen
Read more
- Pub in the Park St Albans about to sell out
- Harpenden takeaway nominated for awards at 'the Oscars of curry'
Foodies-in-training won't be left out, as "special kids' dishes" will be available throughout Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with child-friendly menus from top vendors.
The M&S Kids Area will be a hub of hands-on fun, packed with activities for the little ones, from Wild Thingz animal encounters and a traditional funfair, to face painting, crafts, and interactive workshops that'll keep mini festival-goers smiling all day long.
Do not forget about Pod in the Park too, featuring guests joining Simon Rimmer in his fantasy boozer, The Park Inn, for unique live podcast recordings. Simon will host an eclectic mix of guests from the world of food and music.
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