Waitrose Food & Drink Festival

SERVING UP A FEAST FOR THE SENSES

Now in its fourth consecutive year, this festive celebration of Waitrose food and drink has grown year on year to become a staple culinary event with all 10,000 tickets selling out in a matter of weeks. London’s Tobacco Dock hosts the two-day feast of food and drink sampling, masterclasses, demos, talks, experiences, live music, and much more. Two floors of themed spaces serve up 1,000+ products in a fun, engaging, and original programme, catering for audiences old and new.

A large crowd waits in line at night beside a historic tall ship and a lit brick building, with string lights and umbrellas visible on a rainy evening during the Waitrose Winter Festival.
The stunning festival location of Tobacco Dock.
A vibrant indoor market scene at night during the Waitrose Winter Festival, with people walking on an upper-level walkway and gathering below, illuminated by colorful purple and yellow lights against exposed brick walls and wooden beams.
The festival has expanded to take over both levels of Tobacco Dock.
A male server in a black shirt talks to seated customers at a lively, crowded bar decorated with green balloons and lights, capturing the festive spirit of the Waitrose Winter Festival as people eat, drink, and socialize.
Showcasing and sampling 1,000+ products.
A group of people smiling and laughing at an indoor Waitrose Winter Festival event. A woman in glasses holds a wine glass, while a man beside her laughs. Festive lights and a colorful bar booth brighten the background.
Drinks flowed with Champagne, Beer & Cider, Wine & Spirits, hot drinks and no alcohol zones.
A woman wearing a green Waitrose apron smiles as she serves a drink to an attendee at the bustling Waitrose Winter Festival, with people and stalls visible in the background.
The Waitrose Experience room gamified sampling, encouraging guests to try something different from Waitrose Own Label, Leckford and No. 1 ranges.
A person wearing a green apron holds a tray of small food samples in paper cups, while others reach to take them at the Waitrose Winter Festival tasting event.
Food sampled served throughout the festival.
Two people stand behind a kitchen counter cooking, preparing dishes inspired by the Waitrose Winter Festival. The woman on the left peels a potato while the man in a vest smiles at her, surrounded by pots and kitchen utensils.
The Meet the Experts Theatre is always packed with inspiration and celebrity chefs like Angela Hartnett.
Two women serve food onto plates at a wooden counter during the Waitrose Winter Festival. One, smiling, wears glasses on her head and a white lace blouse; the other, focused, has blond hair and dark clothing. The setting is indoors.
Dishpatch Chefs such as Andi Oliver hosted intimate fireside chats and tasting sessions.
A man in a red apron cooks at a kitchen counter during the Waitrose Winter Festival, ladling food into a pan. Behind him is a large, colorful backdrop featuring food and a basketball net, with utensils and ingredients scattered on the counter.
Free drop-in demonstrations in the Meet the Experts theatre.
A woman in an apron speaks to an audience during a Waitrose Winter Festival cooking demonstration, with a man standing beside her behind a counter filled with fresh vegetables, lemons, and kitchen utensils.
Masterclass theatres (one dedicated to cheese) offered hands-on drink and food experiences.
Three women craft holiday wreaths at a festive table adorned with greenery and pinecones. Two doors with Christmas wreaths and a large snowflake pattern set the scene for a creative Waitrose Winter Festival gathering.
Getting hands on at the wreath-making workshop. One of 120 bookable and drop-in sessions.
At the Waitrose Winter Festival, a group of people sit at a wooden table making cocktails, with one woman pouring a drink from a shaker into a martini glass while others watch and smile. Bottles and bar tools are scattered on the table.
Masterclasses included cocktail making...
A group of people sit facing a presenter at the front of a room with brick vaulted ceilings, creating an intimate and cozy Waitrose Winter Festival atmosphere.
... and cheese pairings.
People gather and socialize inside a warmly lit, brick-ceilinged cheese cellar at the Waitrose Winter Festival, holding drinks and chatting near arched displays stocked with bottles and cheeses.
On the lower level, the Cheese Cellar and wine vaults found an impressive new home.
A DJ wearing a gray beanie and scarf stands behind a wooden booth labeled PIMENTAE DRINKS, mixing music on DJ equipment at the Waitrose Winter Festival. The booth is decorated with greenery and set in an indoor venue with string lights.
Live music, live DJs and dancing.
A person in a sparkling yellow dress and dramatic makeup sings into a microphone beside a yellow piano at the Waitrose Winter Festival, while another plays piano. Onlookers gather nearby, surrounded by festive décor at this lively indoor event.
Two smiling vendors wearing navy aprons and black beanies stand behind a display of packaged snacks and samples at a Waitrose Winter Festival food market stall with a brick wall background.
A smiling person holds a pizza peel with a freshly baked, steaming pizza topped with cheese and sausage, reminiscent of cozy treats enjoyed at the Waitrose Winter Festival, with the focus on the pizza in the foreground.
Food Court selling perfectly prepped meals.
Three smiling people in green aprons stand behind a table, packing gift bags labeled Waitrose Winter Festival in a festive setting with a Christmas tree twinkling in the background.
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A right-pointing triangle-shaped play button with a white center, red left edge, and dark blue outline.

The Numbers:

The Reactions

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FOUR SOLD OUT SESSIONS – 10,000 TICKETS SOLD

OVER TWO FLOORS

250 SUPPLIERS

1,000+ PRODUCTS TO SAMPLE

120 BOOKABLE & DROP-IN ACTIVITIES

WAITROSE EXPERIENCE ROOM WITH MULTIPLE ACTIVATIONS

“Impossible to improve”

“Best year yet”

“Spectacular”

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The Reactions

Stylized orange and navy blue quotation mark symbol on a transparent background.

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Arq Innovation Lab

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People & Planet

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