Calling all spice-lovers, heat fans, and hot sauce devotees – a celebration of all things spicy is on its way to London, and you don’t want to miss it. The Hot Sauce Society Festival is the biggest hot sauce festival in all of the UK, and it’s coming back to London this spring!
Dropping down in Peckham on Saturday, May 11, this will be the fifth iteration of the Hot Sauce Society Festival, which has gone from strength to strength over the years. With a plethora of entertainment, a host of food options, and more hot sauce than you can sniff at (don’t get too close or you’ll singe your nose hairs!), it’s a raucous old time for chilli aficionados. The best part? Tickets are a measly £2 for entry – or free for under-12’s. And sure, you tot might not be the biggest spice-head (yet), but there’s plenty on offer to make it a fun day for the whole family.
What to expect at a hot sauce festival
If we’re being honest with ourselves, a hot sauce festival isn’t exactly the most common thing in the world. So you might be wondering what exactly is in store for attendants. The event caters to everyone, with family-friendly activities, spice challenges, awards, food & drink, and more. Guests can enjoy:
- over 40 traders
- street food
- craft beer and cocktails
- DJs and live entertainment
- group games
and more…
It’s essentially a brilliant day for capsaicin connoisseurs to try out some of the tastiest and hottest sauces around. Hot sauces will be available to try, and buy to take home, from the likes of Maame T’s Pepper Sauces, SaucyBitch, Lazy Scientist, Yep Kitchen, Chilli Chans, Heriot Hott, and Little O’s Hot Sauce, among many others. Sauces will range from classic, to hugely inventive, to those with punchy Asian flavours, and beyond.
Food and drink
Naturally, you’ll need some food and drink to recover from the sauces – or to submerge yourself even further in the world of spice. Guests can enjoy everything from craft beer to spirited cocktails alongside plenty of food. Dishes come from Lucky’s Chicken (check out their super spicy Nashville Hot Chicken), Yang’s Noods, Oh My Dog!, and Meldown Cheeseburgers, as well as ice cream from Marcello’s and brews from Good Koffee.
The highlight of the festival, though, has to be the return of “Hop Burns and Black present Chilli Karaoke“. Contestants will battle stage fright and spice as they attempt to sing their hearts out immediately after eating a scorching hot scotch bonnet.
This year will mark the hot sauce festival’s first-ever ‘Hot Sauce Society Awards’. Select hot sauces and hot sauce makers will be awarded titles ranging from ‘Best in Show’ to ‘Best Everyday Sauce’, ‘Best Extra Hot Sauce’, and beyond.
Said Allie Behr, the brainchild behind Hot Sauce Society:
“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.“
The Hot Sauce Society Festival will take place on May 11, from 11am-7pm. Head here to find out more!
📍133 Copeland Road, Peckahm, SE15 3SN. The nearest station is Peckham Rye.