Embers Fire Festival set to ignite the Ironbridge Gorge over May Bank Holiday

A brand-new celebration of fire cooking, live music and family-friendly entertainment is coming to Ironbridge Gorge this spring, as Embers Fire Festival launches at Dale End Park on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May 2026, inviting visitors to make the most of the May Bank Holiday weekend in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site setting.

Hosted by Embers Café Ironbridge and live-fire specialist Adam Purnell, also known as The Shropshire Lad, the festival will bring together acclaimed chefs, street food specialists and musicians for two days of open-flame cooking and festival atmosphere in one of Telford’s most iconic settings. Running from 11am–9pm each day, it promises a relaxed, inclusive and thoroughly sociable Bank Holiday experience. Leading the line-up is Adam Purnell, whose bold wood-fired cooking and live-fire demonstrations have earned him a national following.

Joining him on the Kadai demo stage, hosted by food obsessives and TV presenters Sam and Shauna, is a cast of fire cooking talent spanning community chefs, pit masters, Le Cordon Bleu-trained cooks and a Beirut-born restaurateur whose work has been praised by Jay Rayner. Demonstrators across the weekend include George Egg, Hungry Guy, Matty's Chop Shop, Big Nath, Shane and Maisie McBagley and Jad Youssef.

Alongside the demos, visitors can eat their way through a world-class vendor line-up. DJ BBQ, aka Christian Stevenson, brings the energy and the best of North Carolina barbecue, while classically trained Stéphane Delourme, Rick Stein's head chef at The Seafood Restaurant for over 21 years, turns his fire-cooking skills to the finest seafood. Award-winning fusion specialists Cue Point, bold rule-breakers Smokey Rebel and former RAF chef and Formula 1 culinary operator Davey Davey-Smith of Reclaimed Fire complete a vendor line-up that spans continents and techniques. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available throughout.

Adam Purnell, Owner of Embers Café, Baked Bean Ironbridge and Founder of Embers Fire Festival, said: " Embers Fire Festival brings together everything I'm passionate about - incredible food, great music and a proper shared experience in a place I love. I've been hosting fire cooking demos for years and there's never been a single demo where I haven't learnt something from the chef. That's what fire cooking does to you, it keeps you hungry.

“Ironbridge is the perfect place to host this festival. It's where the industrial revolution was born and where I opened my first fire-cooking café, so combining world-class food and music in this setting feels like a perfect fit. We'd really encourage people to make a weekend of it. The Gorge is on the doorstep, the walking is spectacular and there's brilliant local accommodation all around us. Come for the festival, stay for everything else."

Entertainment and family fun

The music stage runs across both days with something for everyone. Saturday's line-up includes Telford-based pop/rock act Callum & The Pookies, fronted by a Voice UK finalist, Glastonbury and Bestival veterans Urban Jukebox, roots and reggae favourites The Reggulites and dark Shropshire storytellers The Black Rapids. Sunday brings Supernova, widely regarded as the UK's best-sounding Oasis tribute band, alongside ska six-piece Skaburst, the irrepressible Over the Hillbillies and singer-songwriter Joe Seager. A resident DJ line-up will keep the energy going throughout the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, the action heats up further as Clifton Chilli Club brings its live chilli eating competition to the festival, with brave contestants battling through increasingly fiery peppers in front of a crowd.

Family entertainment is woven throughout both days. Elementary Entertainment opens the main stage each morning at 11am with an explosive science show, while Stiklings run fire play and circus skills workshops, Dinky Street brings an immersive children's role-play village and Boardroom Gaming provides giant games for all ages and a kids' disco and a dedicated family wellbeing space complete a programme designed to keep all ages happy from open to close.

Alongside the food and demos, visitors can browse a curated selection of market traders and stalls including Shropshire Salumi, Paso Primero, Waz’s Sauce Hut, Henstone Distillery, Peter Cooke Bread, Smokey Rebel Rubs, Black Sky Blades, Toot Sweets, Risdon & Risdon, TH Pottery and Mel’s Craft Market.

Tickets and further information at embersfirefestival.co.uk