Sunshine, Britpop anthems, smoky barbecue flavours and the laughter of families filled Alex James’ farm this weekend as Big Feastival 2025 returned to Oxfordshire.
The three-day celebration brought together an eclectic mix of live music, top chefs, comedy acts, and family entertainment, with highlights ranging from Travis and Faithless on the main stage to hands-on barbecue cook schools and comedy sets that had crowds roaring.
With food, music, and fun for all ages, this year’s Feastival once again proved why it has become a staple of the UK’s summer events calendar with around 60,000 visitors attending.
Food, Fire and Flavour
The Feastival’s heart has always been food, and this year didn’t disappoint.
Crowds gathered to watch chef Andrew Clarke cooking over hot coals for Acme Fire Barbecue, while Si King, one half of the Hairy Bikers, drew huge cheers for his speedy piri piri spatchcock chicken, prepared in just 30 minutes.
Across the weekend, food fans enjoyed demos and workshops from the likes of August Bernstein, Gaz Oakley, Noor Murad, Emily English and Thom Bateman.
One highlight for many was the BBQ Cook School, where visitors learned to create dishes such as chicken tikka masala cooked entirely on the barbecue — with the bonus of enjoying the results afterwards.
Comedy and Club Culture
Away from the grills, the festival’s Exchange tent offered a strong line-up of comedy talent, including Jack Skipper, Eshaan Akbar and Lou Sanders, all of whom had audiences laughing out loud.
Meanwhile, at the ever-popular Cheese Hub, the entertainment was in full swing with turns from Simon Pegg, Woody Cook, DJ Flack, Fish56Octagon, Jess Bays and Huns ‘n’ Roses. The dance floor was packed late into the night as festivalgoers embraced the party spirit.
Star Performances at Big Feastival 2025
The main stage delivered a packed bill, spanning genres and generations.
Performances from Nelly Furtado, Sophie Ellis-Bextor (joined sweetly on stage by one of her children), Faithless, The Cuban Brothers, Brooke Combe and The Wombats kept the energy high throughout the weekend.
Tom Walker impressed with a powerful set, while Travis had fans singing along to their many hits from the very front of the stage. Frontman Fran Healy shared personal stories behind his three “Fu*k You” songs, written during difficult times, which added a raw emotional edge to the performance.
Britpop Classics Reimagined
The grand finale was Alex James’ Britpop Classical, featuring the London Concert Orchestra and guest singers. Initially met with scepticism by some, the concept proved a triumph.
The crowd were treated to orchestral renditions of Blur’s Parklife and Girls & Boys, Pulp’s Common People, Oasis’ Don’t Look Back in Anger and Wonderwall, Radiohead’s Creep, and The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony.
Closing the festival, Fran Healy of Travis returned to perform Blur’s The Universal, a fitting finale that united the audience in a mass singalong.
A Festival for All Ages
With dedicated children’s areas, family-friendly activities, and plenty of food and drink options, Big Feastival once again lived up to its reputation as one of the UK’s most family-oriented festivals.
From silent discos and disco yoga to world-class chefs and Britpop nostalgia, the event struck a balance between grown-up indulgence and family fun.
Looking Ahead
As the sun set on another successful year, organisers hailed the 2025 edition of Big Feastival as one of the most diverse and energetic to date.
With demand growing year on year, fans will already be eagerly awaiting news of the 2026 line-up.
For now, Alex James’ farm can return to its usual quiet pace, but for one long weekend, it was Oxfordshire’s heart and soul.
