Wilderness Festival has unveiled its 2025 feasting programme. To head up the delectable Long Table Banquets are four diverse, immensely talented headline chefs, not to mention a rapper turned foodie and a comedian thrown in for good measure, this is Wilderness Festival after all…
Wilderness darling Angela Hartnett is set to return for the first time since 2019 with an Italian-inspired feast, and South African restaurateur, broadcaster, cookery writer and novelist Prue Leith will make her debut.
Highly-acclaimed and two Michelin-starred Tom Sellers teams will up with rapper, singer, songwriter and brand new food connosieur Stephen Manderson – aka Professor Green – to deliver an unmissable Sunday roast and starting things off, Imad Alarnab of Imad’s Syrian Kitchen will create an opening night banquet in aid of Choose Love, hosted by comedian Deborah Frances-White.
In The Audi Kitchen, a luxurious oasis nestled in The Audi Haven, this year, the menu has been crafted by none other than Audi ambassador and culinary icon Chef Monica Galetti.
Known for her bold flavours and fearless creativity, Monica will bring her signature style to the Wilderness table, creating a one-of-a-kind feast that reflects her global roots and uncompromising passion, whilst celebrating locally sourced produce in line with the festival ethos. But these seats aren’t bookable, instead, guests will have the chance to win a seat at the table.
If that weren’t enough, new this year: Audi is set to turn up the heat as Michelin-starred Chef Rohit Ghai, will return to deliver Audi’s first-ever BBQ experience in The Audi Garden, a serene spot to savour bold flavours or simply dip in and grab something delicious on the go, this is the culinary moment you won’t want to miss.
The intimate Chef’s Table is the jewel in the feasting crown, perched on a hillside overlooking the glistening waters of the lake. A handful of diners sit around the counter, sipping fine wine and chatting to the masterminds behind the seven-course feast.
All four chefs will be making their festival debut this year: co-founder of green and Michelin-starred St Barts and Nest Johnnie Crowe, chef-owner of Behind, the Michelin-starred, 18-seat chef’s table restaurant in London Fields Andy Beynon, Irish chef, restaurateur, and television personality Anna Haugh and closing the weekend out in style will be Joshua Overington – chef-owner of Mýse, a Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms nestled in the picturesque village of Hovingham.
Now a festival mainstay, celebrated Cornish chef Ben Quinn is the founder of Woodfired Canteen, renowned for creating immersive, fire-cooked feasts that transform dining into a communal celebration. Ben will return with his signature Long Table Banquet in the Woods – a magical three-course, open-fire feast served beneath the forest canopy.
2024 runaway success and hub of wholesomeness, The Soul Food Café will return, a beautiful space to chill and rejuvenate, offering weekend-long takeaway from their nourishing menu.
Each morning, the space will host the Stroll for the Soul & Brunch – a meander through the forest with like-minded diners, followed by a beautiful brunch to start your day right, hosted by Self Space, founders of the on-demand mental health service on the high street.
While in the evening, Yoga Supper Club will return – this isn’t just yoga and food – it’s an invitation to move, connect and gather in a way that lingers long after the last bite. Move, breathe, and shake before settling in for a well-earned feast.
Field Restaurants & Pop Ups this year will include The Café Cùil Corner, from Isle of Skye local and Café Cùil owner Clare Coghill – winner of ‘Hidden Gem’ at The Scotsman Scran Awards 2024. ‘Cùil’ is Scottish Gaelic for “cosy nook” and festival-goers can expect just that.
Open all day, from brunch to dinner and wee plates, expect award-winning food, showcasing the best of Highland produce. Think tattie scone tacos, square sausage, haggis, and fresh Isle of Skye crab, alongside curated cocktails to keep the party going and a hearty dose of true Highland hospitality.
CODE Hospitality’s Woman of the Year 2025, founder of LOR (Ladies of Restaurants), and the acclaimed Margate restaurant Sète, Natalia Ribbe, will be bringing her signature style and community ethos, curating a wine and bites bar, that is sure to be the perfect place to sit back, relax and take in the atmosphere of the festival, while the sounds of the nearby Playing Fields ring out in the background.
The ever-popular Reading Between the Wines in the Books Tent returns, with bookseller and owner of Phlox Books Aimée Madill teaming up with sommelier Bert Blaize to find the perfect book and wine pairings. Grab yourself a romance and a rosé or some crime with a cabernet…
And it’s not just your taste buds that get to play… The Arts Programme is brimming with hands-on crafting, immersive workshops, and playful moments of creativity. From tie-dye and life drawing to candle-making, couture, zine-making and beyond, participants can expect artful happenings, offbeat theatre, and soulful sessions under the stars. All imagination can run wild.
The Wilderness Talks and Debates programme is now complete, set to feature a broad cross-section of inspiring panels and talks for the curious. This year, join comedian and broadcaster Suzi Ruffell for a lively conversation with Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis and author/journalist Marianne Power.
Cultural theorist and broadcaster Kaitlyn Regehr will join journalist and bestselling author Yomi Adegoke to examine the impact of the digital world on our relationships, attention spans and mental health.
Anxiety expert and psychotherapist Joshua Fletcher (aka “Anxiety Josh”) will offer a rare look at what it’s really like on both sides of the therapy room in ‘And How Does That Make You Feel?’ and much more. Sunday Papers Live takes over on Sunday as usual, bringing the broadsheets to life section by section with a range of experts.
The Books Tent will host author discussions on everything from saving the Amazon, what happens after dark, to the full story behind your menstrual cycle. The diverse range of writers will include Tiffany Watt Smith, Orlando Whitfield, Felicity Spector, Martha Deiros Collado, Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, Anna Bogutskaya, Lucy Rose, Heather Parry and more.
Last, but by no means least, there will be a teaming up with the incredible Bridges for Music to deliver a Ride to Wilderness in aid of the amazing work they do, empowering young creatives through education. So, for anyone who fancies their Lycra, soaking up the sun and turning their journey to Wilderness into an adventure for a great cause, with some fellow legends, is a great idea..
All feasting experiences & art workshops will open for bookings on 22 May. Menus will also be dropped for everyone to preview and share the main stage day splits from this Friday, so it’s okay to get planning with one’s team before booking! It’s all kicking off…
