Festival
FAQ's
Do you have a question...
We have tried to answer some of the more common questions we get asked about the festival.
If you have a question it might be answered below. If its not there, you can find contact details at the footer of the page.
See you on the beach!
Where is the festival?
On the beautiful white sands of Porthminster Beach. The Warren, St Ives Cornwall TR26 2EB
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The beach is only accessible on foot.
Can I bring my dog?
Can I bring my own food and drink?
Our food traders have a huge selection of delicious food on offer and our bars serve a fantastic selection of drinks. You cannot bring your own alcohol or glass onto the beach or the surrounding green spaces.
Is the festival family friendly?
Do I need a ticket to attend?
The festival is free to attend, no ticket required. The only elements that require a purchased ticket are the Masterclasses and the Sunset Sessions. Tickets and further information can be found here: https://tickets.stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk/
What times are you open?
What times are you open?
The festival is open:
Friday 11am-11pm
Saturday 10am-11pm
Sunday 10am-10pm
The lower half of the beach including Chefs Demos, Artisan Market and Community Tent close at 6pm
The Sunset Sessions are ticketed from 6pm
I want to make a weekend of it, can you suggest some accommodation?
St Ives is a perfect location for a weekend away with various accommodation offerings from quaint cottages to holiday parks. We’d recommend:
For a hotel stay Tregenna Castle
For camping Ayr Campsite
For quality self-catered rentals Carbis Bay Holidays
Are there accessible facilities at the festival?
Due to the nature of the site the festival may not be suitable for those with mobility issues. The entire event takes place on sand and access is via steep hills.
There is a beach wheelchair available for use from the beach shop. It is reserved on the day only, first come first served. There is an accessible toilet unit on the beach, alongside a Changing Places facility within the public toilets adjacent to the beach, more information can be found here: https://www.changing-places.org/find?toilet=2480
Are there baby changing facilities on the beach?
There is a baby changing table within the accessible portable toilet unit. Alternatively the public toilets adjacent to the beach have baby changing facilities.
Is the beach pram friendly?
In a word, no. We would advise bringing baby/toddler carriers due to the sandy beach.
Will the event go ahead whatever the weather?
Are there plenty of places to sit?
We will have lots of picnic benches situated around the beach but seating is limited and first come first served. The beach is very comfy, we recommend that you bring a picnic blanket and enjoy the view.
Can I go swimming?
The event takes place on a public beach so if you decide to go swimming we suggest that you exercise caution when accessing the water.
You should never swim whilst under the influence of alcohol.
The RNLI will not be providing lifeguard cover for the festival.
Do traders take card or cash?
Most of our traders and bars accept both card and cash – however the temporary WIFI network can be temperamental so we do advise to bring some cash just in case. There are no cash machine facilities on the beach.
Is there a lost property facility?
During the festival there will be a box office/info point, this will hold any lost property. After the event, please see our social media channels for information regarding lost property.
Where do I go if I have a question or need help during the festival?
Head to the box office/info point near the music stage and our team will be happy to help
Can I buy tickets for masterclasses and/or evening sessions on the day?
Yes, subject to availability you can purchase a ticket on the day from the Info Point / Box Office.
Please note on the day prices may vary from pre-bought tickets and we expect most events to sell out in advance.
Getting to and from the Festival.
Can I get there by train?
Yes, we recommend that you travel by train if you can. There is a direct park and ride service from St Erth Train Station with plenty of parking.
The St Ives branch line stops just above Porthminster Beach and is a stunning coastal journey.
Trains run from St Erth every 30 minutes until 21:20 on Friday, 21:50 on Saturday and 19:30 on Sunday.
Trains from St Ives to St Erth run until 22:48 on Friday, 22:05 on Saturday and 19:48 on Sunday.
Click here for the 2025 Timetable and tickets.
If you are travelling from out of county, the journey time from London Paddington is approximately 6 hours and you can also travel overnight via the Riveria Sleeper Train, both operated by Great Western Railway. If travelling from the North or Midlands services are operated by Cross Country Trains. Contact National Rail Enquiries for additional information and timetables.
Can I get there by bus?
Local bus information can be found here: https://www.transportforcornwall.co.uk/services
Are there any taxis in St Ives?
Taxis are limited and will require advance booking.
Where is the nearest airport?
Cornwall Airport Newquay is approximately 50 minutes drive from St Ives. Destinations include Stanstead, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Dublin, Edinburgh and others. For further information please visit www.cornwallairportnewquay.com/
Where can I park?
There is no parking at the festival and due to the nature of the access road we are not able to offer drop off or blue badge parking.
Parking in St Ives does fill up very quickly, so we’d recommend arriving early if travelling by car cannot be avoided. Here is a full list of parking facilities in St Ives, although we highly recommend using the park and ride services:
https://www.stives-cornwall.co.uk/discover/good-to-know/parking/
On Saturday and Sunday there is also the addition of St Ives School car park, use the Just Park App: https://www.justpark.com/uk/parking/st-ives/s/higher-tregenna-st-ives-tr26-2bb/
Where can I park and charge my car?
Charging facilities are listed here: https://www.stives-cornwall.co.uk/electric-car-charging-points/
Where is blue badge parking in St Ives?
There is no blue badge parking on Porthminster beach/at the festival. Please see here for nearest facilities: https://www.stives-cornwall.co.uk/disabled-facilities/
I Still have a question!
Ticketing Questions: You can contact our friendly team via the support hub here: St Ives Food and Drink Festival
Other Enquiries: stivesfoodanddrinkfestival@gmail.com