The biggest chicken wing festival in Europe is coming to Bristol

Tickets are now on sale for two days of live music, bourbon, beer, and wings

The humble wing has been much disregarded in British culinary history. We’re all accustomed to Sunday’s roast chicken or a coronation chicken baguette, but it isn’t often that we truly consider the possibilities of the chicken wing.

In America over 1.38 billion chicken wings are consumed over the Superbowl weekend, but here in the UK we have been a little slow on the uptake. 

However all that is set to change with the rapid gaining popularity of this particular cut of meat, and soon the west country will be able to properly indulge in the savory delight of this once unassuming delicacy. 

Wing Fest- the largest chicken wing festival in Europe - will be flying into Bristol for the VE bank holiday and tickets are available now.

On Friday 8th May and Saturday 9th May, some of the best chicken chefs will demonstrate how this meaty morsel can be transformed into a gastronomic masterpiece, and over 5,000 people will congregate to celebrate this saucy snack.

Major-league players from up and down the UK will be descending upon Lloyds Amphitheatre for this mammoth event, including numerous stalls held by Bristol’s very own homegrown talent such as Gurt Wings, Los Herminos, and Quay St Diner. Last year’s Wing Fest champion (London’s Chicken George) will also be in attendance, as will Wingmans who currently hold seven 1st place titles.

Not only will there be over thirty different types of wing on offer from award-winning traders from up and down the UK, but there will also be all the accoutrements one might expect from a heavyweight food festival such as this. 

Wings, music, beer and bourbon are the staples of this festival and the entertainment on offer for a ticket includes (to name just a handful) axe throwing, fairground rides and games, live music, DJs, line dancing, magicians and more. There will also be vegetarian and vegan wing options available for those that want to join in the festivities but don’t eat meat.

With the sound of blues, reggae and brass brands filling the air, and the distinctive chargrill scent of BBQ filling your lungs, this festival will get you in the mood for the summer festival season with a zesty zing. 

Get your hands dirty with a hot sauce making masterclass, or be inspired by the bourbon tasting master class or the live BBQ cooking demonstrations.

If you are feeling brave enough why not enter one of the two eating competitions that will be held? Put your tastebuds to the test with the UK’s official hottest wing challenge- The Lava Wing Challenge hosted by Clifton Chilli Club, or perhaps the famous Franks RedHot Wing Eating Competition.

If you don’t possess nerves of steel and want to take a more laid-back approach to competition you can take it easy, enjoying the wings on offer, and vote (using your phone) to crown the top wings of the festival. 

Tickets are available from 31st January. Early-birds (excuse the pun) start at £17.50, and children under 12 get in free with a paying adult. 

All tickets include a signature Wing Fest trucker hat so you can put the ‘chic’ in chicken.

To get the taste buds tingling check out Wing Fest’s instagram, or see their website for FAQs and other upcoming events.

Wing Fest will be taking place on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9 subject to license approval.