Tom Kerridge’s reliably well-attended food and music festival went off with a bang despite slightly soggy ground on Thursday, May 16, thanks to a number of famous faces who turned out to support the Michelin-starred chef's charity gala.

Described by organisers as “the UK’s biggest beer garden”, Pub in the Park annually kicks off mid-March in Higginson Park, Marlow, before heading on tour to St Albans, Reigate and Chiswick later in the summer.

As such, the opening night of this year’s festival was no small thing, with music legend Van Morrison christening the mainstage and special guests Rick Stein, Mary Berry, James May and more mucking in with cooking demonstrations and Q&A sessions yesterday evening (May 16).

Also in attendance for Kerridge’s opening night gala, raising money for the Meals for Marlow charity, were Ross Kemp, Sir Steve Redgrave, Shakin’ Stevens, Simon Rimmer and Angela Hartnett.

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There was, naturally, no shortage of tasty food either, with a number of Michelin-starred pop-up stalls including Kerridge’s twice-starred pub The Hand and Flowers, Hartnett’s Café Murano and Atul Kochhar’s Vaasu. 

Pub in the Park will run until Sunday, May 19, with even more big-name culinary and musical talents set to flood Higginson Park in the next few days, including Paloma Faith, Busted and Scouting for Girls alongside Jack Blumenthal, Mursal Saiq and Simon Rimmer.

Limited tickets for Saturday afternoon and evening are still available to buy at this link. Don't miss out!