Applications
OPEN!
Our 2027 World Food Festival applications Of Interest are NOW OPEN!
Town Centre, Welwyn Garden City
Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th May 2027
Trading Hours: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
We’re excited to invite food traders to apply for the 2027 World Food Festival — a celebration of global cuisine, culture, and community in the heart of Welwyn Garden City!
This is a crucial year for the town centre and for the Welwyn Garden City BID (our team). Local businesses will soon be voting on whether the BID continues for another term. This vote will determine how initiatives, events, and investments in the town centre are delivered moving forward.
What This Means for the World Food Festival
While we are optimistic about a positive outcome, this decision does carry significant weight. It means that the 2026 World Food Festival could potentially be the final one delivered under the current BID structure, though we are hopeful it will not be.
2027 Event Applications
Looking ahead, applications of interest for the 2027 World Food Festival will open on Friday 8th May and remain open until 8th November 2026.
Please note:
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The 2027 event will only go ahead if the BID is successfully voted back in.
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We expect to have confirmation of the vote outcome in November 2026.
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All applicants will be updated once the result is known.
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Following this, our trader selection process will begin.
Important Information for Applicants:
No 1-day trading options will be offered at this stage — you must be available for both days.
Bars/alcohol vendors: Please note we are not accepting applications from alcohol providers at this time.
Only traders with a current Food Hygiene Rating of 5 will be considered.
Application deadline: 8th November 2026 at 12 noon
As our event continues to grow and evolve, we’re making sure it reflects your feedback. Attendees of last year's event told us in our surveys that they would love to see more variety and new traders, and we have taken that feedback on board.
While we’d love to offer every trader a pitch and support every business, space is limited.
Each application will be carefully reviewed by a panel of three, based on the following criteria:
What We Look For:
Our team carefully reviews each application, considering:
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Registered with your local authority with a level 5 food hygiene rating.
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Visual appeal and presentation of your trailer or pitch. Will it enhance the look at feel of our popular event
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Menu variety and suitability for a diverse, international food audience
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Customer and event reviews and feedback
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Social media presence and engagement. How well you promote yourself and events that you attend
Previous trading experience
If you’ve traded with us before, we’ll also consider:
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Professionalism and etiquette at previous events
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Compliance with our booking processes and event communications
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Social media - How well did you promote the event and yourself
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Event staff and environmental health feedback
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Public and customer feedback
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Attitude and behaviour toward event staff
Required Documentation (if accepted):
Once accepted, traders will have 30 days to submit payment and provide:
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Public Liability Insurance (£5M–£10M)
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Gas Safety Certificates (if applicable)
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PAT Testing Certificates (if applicable)
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Food Safety Certificate (Level 2 or higher)
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General & Fire Risk Assessments
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Food Hygiene Rating of 5
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Up to date Safer Food Better Business Records
We may also contact other event organisers for references.
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PLEASE NOTE THAT PRIORITY BOOKINGS WILL BE ALLOCATED TO OUR TOWN CENTRE BUSINESSES
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WE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING BARISTAS OR COFFEE TRADERS AT THIS EVENT.
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THIS APPLICATION IS NOT FOR MARKET TRADERS! AFTER FEEDBACK TRADER'S AND PUBLIC WE WILL BE REVIEWING THE MARKET AREA.
*Please note that we reserve the right to close the application process earlier than the stated deadline if necessary.
All traders will be required to pay a £100 deposit to secure their pitch. Payment will need to be paid by 31st January 2027.
Questions?
Email us at: worldfoodfestival@welwyngarden.co.uk
