Chester-le-EATS Food, Drink and Music Festival 2025: All You Need To Know

This weekend will see the return of Chester-le-EATS Food, Drink and Music Festival 2025 – and it’s set to be the biggest one yet. Now in its fourth year, the free event - held at Banks Home Riverside, the home of Durham Cricket - will see more than 40 food and drink traders taking part, offering everything from street food to craft gin and rum, bakes cakes and so much more.

Chester-le-EATS will take place from 11am to 5pm on Saturday, September 27th and Sunday, September 29th.  Here is everything you need to know – from what’s on, family fun, the music line-up and where to park. 

What’s on at Chester-le-EATS this year?

Step into a flavour-packed weekend with Chester-le-EATS 2025. From Indian and Sri Lankan street food to mac ‘n’ cheese, loaded fries and Japanese and Korean cuisine, there’s something for every palate. Sip on craft drinks, browse unique stalls, enjoy vibrant entertainment, and soak in a lively, family-friendly atmosphere. 

This Year’s Food and Drink Line-Up

The trader list is full of exciting names - local favourites and new faces alike - promising a diverse array of food, drink, and treats. Discover flavours from around the world, and find your new foodie obsessions.

From Chicken Ting and Truly Torta to Redheads Mac ‘N’ Cheese - as well as favourites such as Spud Gun Loaded fries and My Delhi - the weekend promises to be a taste bud tour of flavours. 

Visitors can access the event via Gate 1, and all street food trucks will be based in the car park. Market Street, featuring craft rum, Portuguese tarts, speciality hot sauces, South African biltong and delicious desserts, will also be based in this area. 

Hungry for traybakes, thirsty for craft gin, or hunting down artisan cheese and quirky prints to brighten up your home? You’ll find it all in the Geoff Cook Suite inside Tower 2 – a foodie and makers’ marketplace bursting with flavour and creativity. 

What Live Entertainment Is At Chester-le-EATS 

Prepare for a vibrant entertainment programme across both days as Chester-le-EATS cranks up the energy with a powerhouse line-up of live performances, spotlighting some of the North East’s finest musical talent.

Saturday 27th September

11:30 Maddy Storey

12:30 Rock Choir

13:00 Euphoria Dance Academy

13:15 Hollie Wild

14:00 Rock Choir

14:30 Jack Cummings

15:30 James Hedley

Sunday 28th September

11:45 David Red

13:00 Dave Lynas 

14:30 Paul Gray

15:30 Stephen Wilson

Is Chester-le-EATS family-friendly?

Alongside the music, visitors can enjoy a packed programme of entertainment, including: funfair rides, The Family Zone provided by Everyone Active, and eye-catching stilt walkers.

Plus, high-energy dance showcases by the incredible Euphoria Dance Academy to laugh-out-loud street theatre from the much-loved Dinner Ladies and Flower Pot Men. 

Ythan Sale, Durham Cricket Event Manager, said: “Whether you’re a foodie, a music lover, or a family looking for a great weekend, we’ve got it all here at Chester-le-EATS, and we can not wait to welcome familiar faces as well as see new ones this year.”
 

When & Where, And Where To Park:

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th September

11:00am – 5:00pm both days

Gate 1, Banks Homes Riverside, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, DH3 3QR

Entry: Free for all

Parking: Pay and Display at Riverside, DH3 3SJ

For more information, visit www.durhamcricket.co.uk/events/chester-le-eats