KADAI: Food, Fire & Festival. Why We Keep Coming Back to Ludlow
There's something special about Ludlow Food Festival.
Perhaps it's the incredible setting, cooking in the shadow of a castle, surrounded by rolling hills and ancient stone walls steeped in history. Or perhaps it's the ethos: a proud celebration of local producers, British ingredients, and passionate people who care deeply about where food comes from and how it's made. It's this spirit that keeps us coming back, year after year.
Ludlow Food Festival has always felt like the perfect match for Kadai. It’s the oldest food festival in the UK, built on the values we hold close: heritage, craftsmanship, and a love of real food. Just like our firebowls, which were once used for cooking on the streets of Rajasthan and have now been lovingly repurposed for gardens across Britain, the festival celebrates heritage while welcoming fresh ideas.
We’ve had the pleasure of connecting with some of the country’s best live fire chefs at this iconic food festival. The Fire Stage, set in the Inner Bailey, has become a real highlight, sparking conversation, curiosity, and cooking techniques that push boundaries and inspire. It’s where we can showcase the versatility of the Kadai to a live audience, and where chefs can share their stories, recipes, and smoky secrets.
This year, we’re proud to be back once again, hosting the Fire Stage and, for the second time, bringing the British Live Fire Cooking Championships to Ludlow. For us, there’s no better place to host the UK qualifier for the Live fire category of the World Food Championships than right here in the heart of Shropshire. Surrounded by great people, great produce, and that unmistakable smell of wood smoke drifting through the castle grounds.
Ludlow is more than just a date on our calendar, it’s a community we feel part of. A place where fire, food and flavour come together in the best possible way.
We’ll see you by the flames.
British Live Fire Cooking Championships