The UK’s unparalleled celebration of heat, flavour, and community, the Hot Sauce Society Festival, is making a fiery return to Copeland Park this spring. On Saturday, May 11th, 2024, from 11am to 7pm, this chilli-packed event promises to deliver an even hotter experience than before. With a mere £2 entry fee and free admission for kids under 12, the festival is set to be an inclusive day out for families, foodies, and hot sauce aficionados alike.
This year, the festival is excited to welcome an impressive lineup of 43 independent hot sauce makers, offering a sizzling selection that surpasses last year’s count. Among these, attendees will discover the bold flavours of Maame T’s Pepper Sauces, the innovative concoctions of SaucyBitch and Lazy Scientist, punchy asian chilli oils from Yep Kitchen and Chilli Chans, traditional heat of Heriot Hott, and the exotic zest of Little O’s Hot Sauce, to name just a few.
To complement the fiery sampling, the festival has teamed up with some exceptional drinks partners. Gipsy Hill Brewery will be offering their craft beers, while Cazcabel Tequila and Cut Rum bring a selection of spirited cocktails. For a unique taste, Lonkero Drinks will introduce festival-goers to the Finnish cocktail of gin and grapefruit soda, ensuring there’s a refreshing option for everyone.
Food enthusiasts will be thrilled with this year’s culinary offerings. Over in the street food yard, Lucky’s Chicken, will be serving up their Nashville hot chicken, guaranteed to satisfy spice lovers alongside Yang’s Noods, Oh My Dog! and Meldown Cheeseburgers. Sweet relief will come in the form of Marcello’s ice cream and the artisan brews of Good Koffee, providing perfect pairings to the hot sauces on offer.
This year introduces the “Hot Sauce Society Awards,” a new highlight where a panel of hot sauce aficionados will judge and award titles such as “Best in show”, “Best Everyday Sauce,” “Best not-actually-a-hot-sauce” and “Best Extra Hot Sauce”. This competition is eagerly anticipated, with winners to be announced soon, showcasing the creativity and passion of the hot sauce community.
Adding to the excitement, the festival will feature live DJs to keep the energy high throughout the day. The much-loved “Hop Burns and Black present Chilli Karaoke” will challenge attendees to sing their hearts out while battling the heat of a scotch bonnet. Free chilli face-painting will be available for a fun touch, alongside group games for a dash of competitive spirit.
Allie Behr, the brainchild behind Hot Sauce Society, and the team at Animate London, are thrilled to offer an even bigger and better festival experience this year. “We’re excited to bring back the Hot Sauce Society festival for a 5th year. We’ve got the biggest lineup of traders yet and awesome food and drink. We can’t wait to share it with everyone. See you at Copeland Park on May 11th!”
