About

Embers Fire Festival is a brand‑new celebration of fire cooking, live music and family‑friendly entertainment, coming to the Ironbridge Gorge over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Hosted by Embers Café Ironbridge and live‑fire specialist Adam Purnell, also known as The Shropshire Lad, the festival brings together acclaimed chefs, street‑food traders and musicians for two days of open‑flame cooking and festival atmosphere in one of Telford’s most iconic settings.

Fire cooking and food

Leading the line‑up is Adam Purnell, whose bold wood‑fired cooking and live‑fire demonstrations have earned him a national following.

Across the weekend, visitors can watch a wide range of live‑fire cooking demonstrations on the Kadai demo stage, hosted by food obsessives and TV presenters Sam and Shauna, is a cast of fire cooking talent spanning community chefs, pit masters, Le Cordon Bleu-trained cooks and a Beirut-born restaurateur whose work has been praised by Jay Rayner.

Alongside the demos, visitors can eat their way through a world-class vendor line-up. DJ BBQ, aka Christian Stevenson, brings the energy and the best of North Carolina barbecue, while award-winning fusion specialists Cue Point, bold rule-breakers Smokey Rebel and former RAF chef and Formula 1 culinary operator Davey Davey-Smith of Reclaimed Fire complete a vendor line-up that spans continents and techniques. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available throughout.

Live music and family entertainment

A full programme of live music runs across both days, with performances from:

• Callum & The Pookies, fronted by a Voice UK finalist
• Supernova, an Oasis tribute band
• Skaburst, delivering upbeat ska energy
• The Reggulites, bringing roots and reggae sounds

Family entertainment is woven throughout the weekend, including activities and workshops, live shows and interactive experiences designed to keep all ages engaged. On Saturday, Clifton Chilli Club brings its live chilli‑eating competition to the festival.

With fire‑cooked food, live music and a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere, Embers Fire Festival offers a lively Bank Holiday day out in the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge.