Bournemouth, Events & Entertainment | Posted on May 21st, 2026 | return to news

Southbourne Food & Fun Fest brings community together

The inaugural Southbourne Food and Fun Fest on 16 May attracted hundreds of local people to Fisherman’s Walk.

By Janine Pulford

The inaugural Southbourne Food and Fun Fest was busy, busy, busy on 16 May as hundreds of local people jostled up and down Fisherman’s Walk enjoying a variety of food and live entertainment.

Entry was free, and throughout the day The Hush Club banged out favourite tunes along with bubbles and clouds of fog to everyone’s delight. The Bombay Dance Club was a massive hit. It was a spectacle to behold when all ages got to their feet to join in with the exotic moves.

Queues formed at food stalls with cuisine ranging from Persian, Spanish and Indian, and popular favourite Mac & Cheese was in constant demand.

Chef and member of Westbourne Rotary, Richard, gave cookery demonstrations with samples at the bandstand. Other free samples at this zinging festival included pizza, cocktails, beer, and very hot chutney from Chaz, a We Are Humans (WAH) volunteer who donated a large percentage of sales to helping the homeless.

The festival shone a light on local food banks, eco projects and good causes. Charity stalls including WAH and Hope for Food were manned by hardworking volunteers raising money and bringing food poverty and homelessness into focus and showing how small actions can make a big difference.

Clubs rallied too. Southbourne WI was raising £250 for a Resusci Anne (a CPR training dummy) for Southbourne Surf Lifesaving Club. President Pam Singleton said: “A training manikin in the shape of a female will avoid hesitation, which can be critical when having to do CPR on a female having a cardiac arrest.”

The day was organised by Stir Events in partnership with Rotary Club of Westbourne and Boscombe & Southbourne Rotary Club. Mandy Polkey of Stir Events CIC said: “We honestly could not believe the response. To see thousands of people enjoying themselves, supporting local businesses and embracing all the different elements of the festival was incredibly emotional. The atmosphere throughout Southbourne was amazing. Visitors have been telling us it was one of the best community events they have attended, which is wonderful to hear in our very first year.

“We wanted to create more than just a food festival. We wanted an event with heart — something that celebrated local food and drink whilst also encouraging people to learn, connect, grow, make and support one another. The support from Rotary, our volunteers, sponsors, traders and the community has been incredible.”

There was so much more going on, and the promise of a day of food, fun and music made by the organisers was met in full and enjoyed by many.

The next Stir Events’ festival in Fisherman’s Walk will be the Shake & Stir Armed Forces Weekend on 27 and 28 June.