Why East London is the New Hotspot for Food and Wine Festivals
Not so long ago, if you wanted to attend a big food or wine festival in London, you’d likely end up in a central venue or perhaps out west at a grand hall. But lately, all signs point east. East London has emerged as the city’s hottest area for food and wine festivals, and the trend shows no sign of slowing. What’s behind this eastward expansion? Let’s uncork the reasons why East London is now the place to eat, drink, and be merry at festivals.
Industrial Spaces = Perfect Festival Venues
East London, with its wealth of old warehouses, expansive industrial yards, and roomy venues, provides the physical space that modern festivals crave. Unlike central London, where venues are often booked up or a tight squeeze, East London can host thousands of hungry and thirsty visitors without breaking a sweat. Take Big Penny Social in Walthamstow – a former beer factory turned enormous pub and event hall. It boasts two huge halls and one of the largest beer gardens in East London, making it tailor-made for a large-scale festival. It’s no coincidence Winedrops Live chose Big Penny Social for its 2025 festival. The venue can handle 500+ wines, multiple food stalls, stages for music, you name it. East London’s industrial chic means festivals don’t have to shoehorn into conference centres – they can spread out, get creative with layouts, and even incorporate indoor-outdoor flows.
Likewise, places like Tobacco Dock in Wapping (East-ish London) have become go-to for food events like Meatopia and even wine fairs. Tobacco Dock’s sprawling, semi-open space has hosted everything from BBQ festivals to the Real Wine Fair (a natural wine festival) year after year. In fact, the Real Wine Fair 2024 was at Tobacco Dock and it’s been their home for 8 editions – proving East London venues can become enduring homes for annual wine events. The Telegraph noted that even a carnivorous festival like Meatopia thrives there, describing, “East London’s Tobacco Dock plays host to this fiery four-day feast…all about live-fire cooking”. The character of these venues – gritty yet accessible – adds to the festival ambiance that today’s attendees love.
A Young, Hungry Audience (Literally)
The demographic of East London is a festival organizer’s dream: younger, adventurous, and eager to socialise. Neighborhoods like Shoreditch, Hackney, Walthamstow and Stratford have seen an influx of young professionals and students who are keen on experiences over formality. They’re the folks who made street food markets explode in popularity and who line up for craft brewery opens and artisan pop-ups. It’s only natural that they’d flock to food and wine festivals in their area – and they have the numbers.
East London’s population has grown rapidly in the last decade, with creative communities and start-ups flourishing. These residents have a taste for the new and the bold, whether it’s orange wine or vegan kimchi tacos. Festival planners have picked up on this vibe. They know that in East London, an event that breaks the mould (say, a festival that mixes wine tasting with street art and DJs) will be embraced. Gone are the days of stuffy wine tastings – as Winedrops cheekily puts it, “Gone are the days of stuffy wine tastings, Winedrops Live is the future of wine” (to quote their founder). That ethos aligns perfectly with East London’s casual, trend-setting crowd.
Plus, East London’s diversity means a diverse palate. You have communities from around the world here, which means there’s a built-in appreciation for global cuisines and drinks. A food and wine fest in East London might showcase everything from natural Georgian wines to local London craft cider to Jamaican street food – and the locals will enthusiastically try it all. Festivals can be more eclectic and daring in their offerings, knowing the audience is open-minded (and Instagramming their discoveries, of course).
The Brewery and Market Boom
East London has already proven itself in the craft beer scene – the “Blackhorse Beer Mile” in Walthamstow, the taprooms of Hackney Wick, and the OG Tap East in Stratford. This established a culture of going out not just for drinks, but for tasting experiences. That “beer mile” around Blackhorse Lane, for instance, is a mini festival any given weekend, with people hopping from one craft brewery to the next. When Big Penny Social set up there, it was right in the heart of that community. Swapping out beer for wine (or adding wine to the mix) is a logical next step. Locals already love spending Saturdays exploring beverages, so a wine festival slotting into that circuit is welcome.
Similarly, East London’s markets – from Broadway Market to Victoria Park Market – have been community fixtures drawing foodies out east. They’ve incubated many street food vendors and fostered a habit of spending leisure time browsing, eating, and drinking in open-air spaces. Festivals benefit from this habit. An “Autumn Food & Wine Festival in Hackney” feels natural when Hackney folks are used to hitting up a weekend food market. Indeed, events like the Hackney Downs Vegan Market and Street Feast at Dalston Yard (when it ran) helped pave the way for larger festivals by proving East Londoners turn out in droves for food events.
Let’s not forget the influence of the East London Liquor Company (ELLC) and other spirits makers in Bow and Mile End – they’ve hosted open days and cocktail festivals, showing that East London isn’t just about pints, it’s about all drinks. A rising tide lifts all ships: the more East London became known for craft beer, gin, etc., the more natural it became to host wine events there too. And frankly, there’s a bit of rebellious spirit: what better place to reinvent the wine festival (shake off the pretentious rep) than East London, home of hipster innovation?
Creative, Quirky Vibes (Not a Posh Ballroom in Sight)
Atmosphere matters. East London offers an atmosphere that’s cool, a bit gritty, and authentic. Food and wine festivals here can have a block-party feel or a warehouse rave edge, depending on the spin. That’s attractive to organizers who want to differentiate their events from the buttoned-up fairs of the past.
East London allows festivals to incorporate street art, live music, and a come-as-you-are dress code. Picture a DJ spinning in the corner of a converted warehouse as people sample natural wines, food trucks parked outside with global bites – this wouldn’t feel as fitting in a Kensington Olympia exhibition hall, but it feels right at home in Shoreditch or Hackney Wick. The creative energy of the area fuels the festival experience. Hackney Wick, for instance, has annual events that combine art, food, and drink – this multidisciplinary flair seeps into newer wine/food festivals. You might attend a masterclass on urban wine making or sustainable food pairing in a repurposed loft with neon graffiti on the walls. It’s all very on-trend and engaging for attendees who want more than a sterile tasting.
East London Loves Local and Indie Producers
Another factor: East London has been a champion of the independent and local producer. From micro-bakeries to urban wineries (yes, there are a couple – Renegade Urban Winery in Bethnal Green being a prime example), this side of town values craft and authenticity. So when a festival like Winedrops Live brags about gathering the world’s best winemakers under one roof, or featuring 60+ independent producers, it resonates strongly here. In East London, an attendee might personally know the folks pouring at a natural wine stall or recognize a street food chef from the Sunday market. It creates a sense of community – festivals don’t feel impersonal; they feel like a big neighbourhood party where you happen to meet producers from abroad too.
Also, many East London food and drink businesses collaborate. It’s not unusual to see a local coffee roaster at a beer fest or a local brewery at a food fair. This cross-pollination means when a wine festival comes to East London, you might find local kombucha makers, cheese mongers, and bakers also involved, elevating it to a holistic food & drink festival. East London’s collaborative indie network is a fertile ground for such comprehensive events.
For instance, an East London wine festival can easily partner with the brilliant street food vendors from the area (like those at Netil Market or Broadway Market) to provide the food – plug-and-play quality. It can invite urban makers like London Cru or Renegade Winery (London’s actual wineries) to showcase local wines alongside international ones, something that might not happen in a more traditional wine fair. This blending of local and global, indie and established, gives East-hosted festivals a unique edge.
Improved Transport and Accessibility
Let’s address the practical: it’s gotten a lot easier to get to and around East London. The extension of the Overground, the Elizabeth Line opening stations like Whitechapel and Canary Wharf to faster transit, and night Tube on some lines have all made East London more connected. Back in the day, people might have hesitated to trek to Walthamstow or Hackney for a festival. Now, it’s a breeze: Blackhorse Road (for Walthamstow) is on the Victoria Line – 20 minutes from Oxford Circus direct. Shoreditch and Hoxton are on the Overground with quick links to major Tube lines. And because many East London venues are a bit off the tourist track, they often have better weekend availability and cost-effectiveness (key for organizers) – and attendees find them less claustrophobic than central London spots.
Additionally, East London tends to be more car-friendly for those who need to drive in supplies or even attendees (though we encourage public transport especially if wine tasting!). Many venues have some parking or at least loading areas – try that in Soho.
Affordability also plays a role. East London venues can be cheaper to hire, and local businesses often have lower overhead, meaning festival tickets can sometimes be priced a tad lower or offer more value. Who doesn’t love that?
The East London Buzz is Official
Finally, perception: East London has simply become cool. It’s in travel guides, it’s in the press. When people talk about cutting-edge food in London, they mention East London supper clubs, pop-ups in London Fields, or distilleries in Bow. This buzz creates a virtuous cycle – festival organizers want to tap into that buzz, and by hosting in East London they almost automatically inherit some street cred. Publicity for an East London festival often angles the “look what’s happening in the hip East!” which draws curious crowds from across the city (and even outside the city). People from other parts of London are more willing to venture east on a weekend because they’ve heard it’s where exciting stuff happens.
For example, events like the London Coffee Festival moved to Brick Lane years ago, and it flourished there with a younger, international audience. It wouldn’t be surprising if more wine events, even traditionally central ones, try out East London locations in coming years. The vibe and audience are just that attractive.
We see it already: not just Winedrops Live in Walthamstow, but other alcohol-related events like the Whisky Show now taking place at Tobacco Dock (East) rather than a hotel ballroom. And smaller community festivals – say an East Ham Food Fest or Bow Brew & Vino Fest (hypothetical examples) – are popping up, capitalizing on local pride and curiosity.
If you’re curious about experiencing this East London magic firsthand, check out Winedrops Live in Walthamstow – an event emblematic of the East London festival boom. It encapsulates live music, street food, and world-class wine in a funky East End setting. In short, East London is having a well-deserved moment as the capital’s festival playground. If you haven’t ventured east for a foodie or wine event yet, grab your Oyster card (and maybe a tote bag for all the goodies you’ll gather) and join the fun. The energy out here is infectious, the people are welcoming, and the pours are generous. East London isn’t just a hotspot – it’s the heart of London’s new culinary map. Cheers to that!