LUXE Serendipity magazine

Who could forget the iconic Hovis advert? Ridley Scott’s epic cinematography perfectly captured the timeless charm of Shaftesbury and Gold Hill. During our visit, we were invited to the Shaftesbury Food Festival, the highlight of which was the famous cheese-rolling uphill race, stepping into a quintessential old England scene.

At the top of Gold Hill, the scene opens out into something quietly timeless. The steep cobbled street, framed by its iconic cottages, leads the eye towards the edge of town where the spire of St Peter’s Church, Shaftesbury, rises above the rooftops. There’s a stillness here that feels almost suspended – especially when the bustle of the Shaftesbury Food Festival fades into the background.

In quieter moments, Gold Hill has a gentle, reflective calm. The wind moves softly through the lane, the views stretch endlessly over the rolling Dorset countryside, and the church stands as a quiet anchor in the landscape. It’s a place where the energy of the town seems to slow, and you’re left with a sense of peace—like stepping briefly out of time.

And then it becomes a hive of activity during the The Gold Hill Cheese Race. This quirky event has been running since about 2004, and is a highlight of the Shaftesbury Food Festival, where locals and visitors race up the famous steep Gold Hill carrying a wheel of cheese—a fun, quirky celebration of the area’s food heritage. The history of the town stretches back to King Alfred the Great.

The atmosphere of the Gold Hill Cheese Race on Gold Hill is pure, joyful chaos in the best possible way. The steep cobbles become a stage for laughter, cheers, and nervous anticipation as participants line up with wheels of cheese, ready to tackle the punishing climb.

There’s a real sense of community in the air – locals, visitors, and families packed along the narrow hill, all leaning in to watch the drama unfold. The crowd reacts to every stumble and sprint with encouragement and laughter, while the competitors push themselves through a mix of determination and humour, fully aware of the absurdity and charm of it all.

Set against the historic backdrop of Shaftesbury’s skyline, the race feels both surreal and deeply traditional at the same time. It’s competitive, but never serious in spirit—more a celebration of place, food, and shared experience than anything else.

This year’s food festival was one of the biggest and best ever. This year, they put on a park-and-ride from the prestigious Port Regis School, where Zara Philips attended, shuttling visitors to and from the picture-postcard town.

We began at the post office and then meandered uphill, browsing all the local stores and tasting the delicious local produce. Rounds of cheese, glasses of mead, pork pies, sausage rolls, cheesecake, home made jam, artisan coffees, and creamy fudge, there were so many enticing stores.

We also stopped to see local craft stores and artisans and I filled up my picnic basket with so many treats. There was a real buzz in the air as we joined the throng of over 12,000 visitors. Climbing uphill is thirsty work, so we stopped for a cider at the Mitre – a traditional pub in the heart of Shaftesbury, not far from the famous Gold Hill.

It’s a cosy, historic spot offering classic British pub food, local ales, and a relaxed atmosphere and is popular with both locals and visitors exploring the town. It’s a good place to stop for a drink or a meal after walking around the old streets and viewpoints.

However, we were saving ourselves for the tasty food that was about to be prepared by three visiting MasterChefs at the Town Hall. At the Shaftesbury Food Festival, the Kitchen Table hosted three exclusive MasterChefs Live sessions featuring former winners and finalists. We watched these celebrated chefs prepare recipes from their latest books, shared in their culinary journeys, and enjoyed the rare opportunity to meet television personalities and collect signed copies of their work.

The live demonstrations brought global flavours to the heart of Dorset, with Ping Coombes opening with bold Malaysian dishes and stories from Southeast Asia, followed by Anurag Aggarwal showcasing the depth and diversity of Indian cooking. The experience concluded with Shelina Permalloo, who celebrated Mauritian fusion cuisine, blending African, Indian, Chinese, and French influences into warm, storytelling-led dishes that captivated the audience.

Our daughter, who is an avid MasterChef fan, was in awe at meeting chefs she had seen on TV. Master Chef is our girlie night treat, so to bring that to life was incredible- seeing her eyes widen as she met Ping Coombes was magical. She asked her some questions, which helped deepen her love of cooking.

One of the most memorable moments at the Shaftesbury Food Festival came during the MasterChef live sessions, when the distance between the audience and the chef seemed to disappear completely. Meeting Anurag Aggarwal was especially special – his warmth, humour, and effortless charm made the whole experience feel personal, almost like being welcomed into someone’s kitchen rather than watching a stage demo. There was something really touching about sharing those small moments, from gifting his cookbook to John to hearing him speak so passionately about Indian food and family traditions. It left a lasting impression -one of those rare festival experiences that feels less like an event and more like a genuine connection.

Chocolate lovers were also treated to an immersive journey into artisan craft with Michael Barber of Barber’s Bean-to-Bar. The experience began with a chocolate gâteau masterclass, where he demonstrated how to create and decorate a show-stopping dessert, sharing expert piping techniques, finishing skills, and insights into how origin and process shape flavour and texture.

Later, he led a guided bean-to-bar tasting, taking guests from cocoa bean to finished bar and revealing how roasting, refining, and sourcing influence every nuance of chocolate. With decades of pastry expertise and hands-on chocolate making in Devon, he turned each session into a sensory deep dive filled with storytelling, flavour, and discovery.

Running throughout the festival week at the Shaftesbury Arts Centre, the exhibition A Feast for the Eyes brings together seven artists in a vibrant celebration of the link between art and food. Visitors can explore striking food-inspired works by Maja Barker, Alison Turner, Joanne Rutter, Kate Toms, Becca Perl, Lucy Bentley, and Charlotte Lorimer. Alongside the exhibition, a special film screening added another layer to the experience, offering visitors a cinematic exploration of food culture and creativity.

The Shaftesbury Food Festival transforms the town into a bustling celebration of food, drink, and local craft, with over 100 stalls showcasing producers, artisans, and street food from across the region. Looking ahead, expressions of interest are now open for traders for the next festival, set to take place on Sunday, 2 May 2027, promising another vibrant day of flavours, community, and creativity in the heart of Shaftesbury.

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