Barnes Food Fair
The Barnes Food Fair is an annual food and drink festival held on Barnes Green each September, organised by the Barnes Community Association (BCA). Launched in 2012 as a “sister event” to the main Barnes Fair in July, it has grown from around eighty exhibitors to over one hundred stalls showcasing artisan producers, independent restaurants, and street food. After thirteen editions the BCA announced a pause for 2026.
History
The Food Fair was created in 2012 in response to growing demand for locally produced food and to celebrate Barnes’s independent food culture — the High Street is known for one of the highest proportions of independent shops and restaurants in the United Kingdom, according to The Local Data Company. In its second year the fair attracted over three thousand visitors, with more than eighty producers in a marquee on the Green and cookery demonstrations from Michelin-starred chefs Phil Howard and Rowley Leigh and food writer William Sitwell.
By its later years the event had grown to more than one hundred food and drink businesses. In 2025 the BCA announced that after “thirteen wonderful years” the Food Fair would pause for 2026, while the main Barnes Fair in July continues as normal.
Format
The Food Fair runs on a Saturday in mid-September, typically from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a small admission charge (advance tickets around £9–10; children under sixteen free).
- Marquee — the centrepiece, housing artisan producers selling specialty products for tasting and purchase: cheese makers, bakers, farmers, charcuterie, condiments, preserves, English wines, and craft spirits
- Street food zone — freshly prepared food from around the world, including raclette, hog roasts, crêpes, scallops, and dumplings
- Events Stage — rolling cookery demonstrations and tastings from local chefs and food personalities. Past participants have included Vanessa Marx of Bingham Riverhouse, The Ginger Pig butchers, Hawkins Bros (English wine), and Forage Liqueurs
- Live music — bands performing on the bandstand throughout the day
- Picnic tables — seating by Barnes Pond for enjoying purchases
Community Impact
All proceeds support the BCA’s work: staff salaries, Rose House maintenance, and community projects across Barnes. The Food Fair is a significant fundraiser for the Richmond Foodbank’s Barnes distribution centre (part of the Trussell Trust network, based at Castelnau Community Centre).
The event is organised almost entirely by volunteers, who manage traffic marshalling, admissions, Pimm’s sales, and stall logistics. It provides a platform for small food producers and artisan businesses, many of them local, to connect directly with Barnes residents and visitors.
Practical Information
- When: Mid-September (Saturday, 10:00–17:00)
- Where: Barnes Green, London SW13
- Admission: Advance tickets ~£9–10; under 16 free
- Transport: Barnes Station or Barnes Bridge (10-minute walk)
- Organiser: Barnes Community Association (charity no. 1156379)
- Status: Paused for 2026; Barnes Fair (July) continues
Sources
- Barnes Food Fair — Barnes Community Association
- About the BCA — Barnes Community Association
- BCA Barnes Food Fair 2023 — VisitRichmond
- Barnes Food Fair 2025 — Living in Magazines
- Over 3,000 people visit Food Fair — Barnes Village