Why You Should Visit Rock Oyster Festival in Cornwall (2023 Highlights)

Located right on the Camel estuary between Rock and Wadebridge in Cornwall, Rock Oyster festival is a celebration of great food AND great music!

I’d heard so many great things about Rock Oyster festival but had never been before, so was extremely excited when event sponsors – Sharp’s Brewery – invited us along to the festival and their Sharp’s Silent Bistro experience (more on that in a minute!). That, combined with the fact that one of my favourite artists – Nile Rodgers & CHIC – were headlining on the Saturday, this felt like the best weekend ever!

The festival really blew us away – from the music and food to the spectacular location, I’m already buzzing to come back next year! Here are some of the highlights from our weekend, and reasons why you need to check out this Cornish festival too…

The Cornish Riverside Location

I hadn’t realised what a stunning location Rock Oyster festival is situated in! Driving into the car park, you’re already met with views over the estuary, and setting up camp with those views just feels magical. The festival itself is set in the Dinham House estate, surrounded by woodlands too.

Michelin-starred Chef Demos & Foodie Experiences (like the Sharp’s Silent Bistro!)

Rock Oyster is known for its foodie scene, with Michelin-starred and TV chefs running talks and demos throughout the weekend, and fun experiences for all tastebuds to try out. We headed over to the Sharp’s Silent Bistro on Saturday afternoon, for a beer tasting experience with Beer Sommelier, Ed Hughes.

We learned about different beers/lagers/IPAs and their best pairings in this interactive session, with music and tasty treats, and it was great to try something a little bit different to kick off the evening!

The Independent Shops, Tents & the Outfits / Vibe

As we wandered around, we spotted SO many cute shops and tents, and were definitely tempted to buy ALL the things. Discovering independent sellers is one of my favourite things about festivals, and Rock Oyster did not disappoint! We also loved the whole vibe, the layout & set designs, and enjoyed people watching for crazy fun outfits too.

The Delicious Food & Drink

Of course, being such a foodie festival, you wouldn’t expect anything less than amazing food and drink offerings. From an oyster bar (of course!), to a slow roasted BBQ tent, and tasty fresh asian dishes (we opted for an amazing katsu teriyaki in the end!), there are so many delicious places to choose from.

And of course don’t forget to grab a cold Sharp’s beverage while you’re there – perhaps a refreshing Offshore pilsner, or try their new pineapple-y Solar Wave hazy IPA!

The Incredible Music (Nile Rodgers & CHIC ROCKED it!!)

If you know me, you’ll know that disco music is my FAVOURITE genre of music – Nile Rodgers is basically the KING of disco beats. Him and CHIC put on an absolute corker of a show on the Saturday evening, and I was completely in my element dancing around to this!

Other headliners this year included Groove Armada and Sophie Ellis-Bextor – incredible names and perfect for the vibe of the festival.

Fun Things to do for All Ages

This festival is super family friendly, with play areas, fun activities and rides to go on; Rock Oyster is for sure one that kids and adults can enjoy alike! At night, you can stumble on stages playing anything from rock to techno & house, so you’ll definitely be able to find the vibe you’re after!

 

Will you be adding Rock Oyster to your festival bucketlist?

*We were kindly invited as guests of Sharp’s Brewery, who were sponsoring the event. Thank you so much to Sharp’s for having us!