Running from the 17th of April to the 1st of June 2025 - The British Library’s most anticipated Food Season has released its line-up for this year - including names such as Prue Leith, Nadiya Hussain, Dan Saladino and Candice Brathwaite and is set to be the must-attend food event of the year.

Coming into its seventh year, The British Library is known for its renowned Food Season which brings together a roster of talented chefs, food writers and historians, cultural commentators and literary authors to explore some of the best bits about food: past, present and history, as well as the global influences impacting each.

Staying true to their ethos of only bringing the most exciting and news-worthy events to their line-up, The British Library has something for everyone. Whether you’re a passionate home cook, a professional pioneer or just someone looking to dabble in the culinary world a little more.

Launching with cookery icon, Dame Prue Leith’s A Life In Food series, you can join Leith as she reflects on a life in food with writer and critic Jimi Famurewa and finishing with a two-day celebration of food through words, cultures, sounds, ideas and tastings with the Library’s Food Season BIG WEEKEND.

And new for 2025 - the Food Season Food Awards with four prize categories: Best Narrative Cookery Book, Food on Display, Food Stories Fellowship and a Food Hero Award which will be voted for by the public.

What’s On

A full line-up of the events can be found here.

The British Library Food Season: Prue Leith | Jimi Famurewa

Prue Leith: A Life In Food

Thursday 17 April - 19:00
£14
Food legend Prue Leith in conversation with Jimi Famurewa

Food Stories with Itamar Srulovich and Friends

Thursday 24 April - 19:00
£14
Talking about the food writing that’s special to them. Guests include: Rosamund Grant, Olia Hercules, Angela Hui, Jeremy Lee, Marie Mitchell, Cynthia Shanmugalingam, Ruby Tandoh, and Dom Taylor.

At The Legends’ Table

Friday 25 April - 19:30
18+ only | £50
A unique evening of food and conversation with Claudia Roden, Ken Hom and a celebration of Anna Del Conte with Angela Hartnett.

What is the Point of a Cookbook?: A Vittles Panel

Monday 28 April - 19:00
£10
Acclaimed food newsletter Vittles presents cookery writers and chefs Ozoz Sokoh, Rukmini Iyer and Sophie Wyburd to debate the enduring appeal of the cookery book.

The British Library Food Season: Professor Christina Vogel | Endocrinologist Dr Tony Goldstone “ Columnist Zoe Williams | Chartered Psychologist Kimberley Wilson

Ozempic Nation

Friday 9 May - 19:00
£14
Discover the social, health, personal and psychological impacts of weight loss injections

Food Matters for Food Lovers

Saturday 10 May, 10:30 and Sunday 11 May 16:30
18+ only | £90
This two-day course led by food writer and commentator Mallika Basu will inspire, inform, and equip you with the knowledge and skills to think, eat and write about food in a more meaningful way.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Meet the Foodies

Monday 12 May - 18:30
£8.83
This event brings together food business owners who have carved out their own unique spaces and are revolutionising the vibrant culinary world

The British Library Food Season: Nadiya Hussain | Candice Brathwaite

Nadiya Hussain: Writing Rooza

Thursday 15 May - 19:00
£14
Chef and food legend Nadiya Hussain talks to author, journalist and TV presenter Candice Brathwaite

A Sonic Journey Through a Recipe

Tuesday 27 May - 19:00
£10
An evening of sounds, tastes and conversation with chef and food writer Pam Brunton and musician and DJ Matthew Herbert

British Library Food Season Big Weekend

Saturday 31 May - Sunday 1 June
Weekend Pass - £35 | Saturday Pass - £25 | Sunday Pass - £15
The Big Weekend is the climax of the British Library Food Season. Our banquet of delights includes panels exploring food from Eastern Europe, China, the US and Mexico and the way that Latin American sweet treats are at the heart of the community.

Day and weekend passes are available, which will allow you to attend any relevant session. You can also book individual tickets to sessions, should you not want a day or weekend pass. These can be found here.

Please note though that access to individual sessions will be subject to venue capacity, and you are advised to arrive early to the session of your choice to avoid disappointment.

Saturday 31 May

11.15 Pigott Theatre An A–Z of Language in Food with Jenny Lau, Olia Hercules, Salma Elsahhar and Sally Abé.

11.15 Piazza Pavilion Latin American Ingredients: Connecting Communities Through Food with UK based chefs, entrepreneurs and artists Karla Zazueta (Mexico) Camila Marcías (Chile), Sara Castañeda (Ecuador) and Laura Hoyos (Colombia).

13.00 Pigott Theatre Gardening to Feed Body, Soul and Society with Jenny Linford, Leyla Kazim, Kathy Slack, Claire Ratinon and Pam Warhurst.

13.00 Piazza Pavilion From Albania to Zagreb: Eating the Balkans with Irina Janakievska, Jelena Belgrave and Aleksandar Taralezhkov in conversation with Caroline Eden.

14.30 Pigott Theatre Food and Spectacle: Medieval to Modern with experiential producer Sam Bompas, curator Calum Cockburn, “The Pie King” Calum Franklin and historian Dr Eleanor Janega.

14.30 Piazza Pavilion Fish Lives: Women in the Fishing Industry with a special performance by Femmes de la Mer.

16.30 Piazza Pavilion Kitchen Comforts with Jimi Famurewa, Roopa Gulati, Jenny Lau and Julie Lin.

16.30 Pigott Theatre M.F.K. Fisher: Oysters, Sex and Death with Alastair Harper, Rebecca May Johnson, Kennedy Golden, Gurdeep Loyal and Extradition Order.

Sunday 1 June

12.30 Pigott Theatre Beyond the Burger: US Food Wave with food writer Felicity Cloake, chef Tom Zahir, writer Kayla Stewart, and comedian Desiree Burch.

12.30 Piazza Pavilion Beyond the Taco: Mexican Food Here and Now with Andrea Montes Renaud, Chloe-Rose Crabtree, Karla Zazueta, Santiago Lastra and Thomasina Miers.

14.00 Pigott Theatre A Few of Our Favourite (Kitchen) Things with Angela Clutton, Bee Wilson and Melek Erdal.

14.15 Piazza Pavilion Beyond the Promises with Mallika Basu, Lorraine Copes (Be Inclusive Hospitality), Aji Akokomi (Akoko, Akara), and Jackson McClarty (Black Eats).

16.00 Pigott Theatre Eat the Future: Radical Ways to Feed Ourselves and save the Planet with Dan Saladino, Chloë Dunnett, Daniel Tristao, Thomas Washington and Sorawut Kittibanthorn.

16.00 Piazza Pavilion Martini: Myths, Magic and Mixes with drinks columnist Alice Lascelles, Sipsmith master distiller Jared Brown and award-winning bartender Monica Berg.

The 2025 Food Season has been developed by the Head of Eccles Institute for the Americas at the British Library and Food Season founder, Dr Polly Russell with award-winning food writers Angela Clutton and Melissa Thompson as co-directors. Food Season support from Joe Allen. The British Library’s Food Season 2025 is sponsored by Miele.

The British Library's 2025 Food Season Line Up