James Blunt, Kaiser Chiefs and Craig David join Tom Kerridge to burst our lockdown bubble with Pub In The Park

James Blunt is the perfect antidote to a long ol’ lockdown (Picture: Mariano Regidor/Redferns)

As the UK springs back to life as restrictions on social events and gatherings ease, Pub In The Park may be the antidote to a year locked indoors ordering takeaway and undercooking banana bread.

The ultimate foodie festival, Pub in the Park with Tom Kerridge, took place in Dulwich Park, South East London, last weekend, with more dates scattered throughout the summer with a fine selection of chefs and artists on board.

Alongside the nosh, chart-toppers including All Saints, James Blunt, Ronan Keating, Craig David, Kaiser Chiefs and Toploder will bring the entertainment with their smorgasboard of hits.

The festival – which has been operating socially distanced events safely – celebrates everything there is to love about the glorious British pub; delicious food, award-winning chefs, chart-topping music, great drinks, but above all else, a fantastic time with friends and family.

In Dulwich, award-winning pubs and restaurants served £6 tasting dishes from local favourites as well as national heroes you may never have been able to visit – lockdown or no lockdown.

Delicious food was on offer from Kerridge’s Bar and Grill, The Begging Bowl, Atul Kochhar, British Barbecue favourite Cue Point and East Dulwich’s very own The Lordship Pub, while nostalgic performances from Soul II Soul, Gabrielle, Beverley Knight and Basement Jaxx got us on our feet.

A little All Saints action with a side of fine food? (Picture: Gus Stewart/Redferns)

Brand New Heavies served up a heavy dose of 90s vibes, blasting old skool classics such as Dream on Dreamer and Midnight at the Oasis, while iconic Knight took to the stage with a show-stopping vocal that reverberated around the park.

Foodie highlights – because we know you want the details – came in the shape of Kerridge‘s lightly-dusted whitebait and decadent Marie Rose sauce, Spice Cafe’s sweet and flaky masala fish roll, and Cue Point’s succulent 16 hour slow-roasted beef taco.

TV chef Gizzi Erskine also created one of her amazing dishes on the chef demo stage and shared her culinary secrets in an exclusive Q&A in the VIP tent, hosted by Peach Pubs.

Summer is here

Chef Kerridge said of the event, with a tip of the hat to our key workers: ‘After the year we’ve had, I think everyone deserves a good-knees up – and what better way to do it than Pub in the Park!

‘Key workers have been the true superheroes of this pandemic, and we want to say thanks by offering 8,000 complimentary tickets across the tour, so these superstars can let their hair down while enjoying some awesome music and lush grub.’

If you missed the action in Dulwich, you have plenty of opportunities to hitch a ride to an upcoming event.

More: Summer

Pub in the Park with Tom Kerridge will be hosting a further seven Covid-safe celebrations across the UK, with the next tour to take over Tunbridge Wells’ Dunorlan Park on July 9-11 before moving on to Chichester, Chiswick, St Albans and finishing in Marlow across September 16-19.

Tickets are available online here.