This summer’s hottest event comes to Forbury Gardens this month. Market organiser Blue Collar is back with another food festival, or Feastival, bringing together over 11 of Reading’s favourite street food vendors, a bar and fire pits for a whole weekend of eating and drinking in Reading.
Discover the dishes to look out for, the full vendor line up and what drinks are on offer in my guide to Blue Collar’s Feastival, which is in Forbury Gardens from Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 June.
What street food will there be?
This year an exciting new street food venture has entered the scene. Much loved London Street restaurant Clay’s Hyderabadi Kitchen have recently started doing street food pop ups including at Craft Theory and Double-Barrelled, and will be making their third street food appearance at Feastival. Expect an exciting menu of new dishes including Telangana chicken curry, perugu garelu – which are lentil doughnuts apparently and mung bean fritters (I’ve had them, they’re definitely way more tasty than a mung bean sounds!).
Also look out for Thai treats from Krua Koson and loaded nachos and hotdogs from Kurbside Kitchen.
Alongside the newcomers, look out for Feastival favourites, such as ox heart from Peru Sabor, gooey, melty cheese toasties from Gourmet Cheese Toasties, and chicken and halloumi souvlaki from John the Greek.
Who’s in the full Feastival street food vendor line up?
- Rad Burger: Pasture fed, dry-aged burgers
- Krua Koson: Thai street food
- Kurbside Kitchen: Ultimate hot dogs, loaded fries and nachos
- Gourmet Cheese Toasties: Stacked grilled cheese sandwiches
- Clay’s Hyderabadi Kitchen: Hyderabadi street food and new dishes not on the restaurant menu.
- John the Greek: Chicken and halloumi souvlaki with paprika spiced chips and homemade tzatziki sauce
- Peru Sabor: Authentic beef lomo, spiced chicken wraps, tender ox heart and chicken burgers
- Wolf Italian Street Food: Pasta & Italian piadas
- Halloumi Fry Co.: Halloumi fries with a selection of toppings
- S&S Kitchen: Caribbean cuisine including jerk chicken, goat curry, wrap and roti
What about drinks?
The classic Blue Collar Bar will be back with beer from Oxford’s Tap Social Brewery and their special branded pilsner just for this event, the Blue Collar Beer, which is a light easy drinking summer lager. There’ll also be wine, bubbles and soft drinks as well as Pimm’s and summer cocktails.
And if you’re looking for a caffeine fix, this year will also see a dedicated coffee stand from Reading’s independent coffee company, Anonymous Coffee Co.
Feastival runs from Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 June in Forbury Gardens. Food stalls will be serving from 11am until about 8pm, the bar will stay open until 10.30pm.
