Upton House Food & Music Festival

Upton House Food & Music Festival 2026

Join the Upton House Food & Music Festival from 12-14 June 2026 at Poole Quay, Dorset. Set by the harbour, this family-friendly event offers international street food, live music, and a vibrant seaside atmosphere.

Food & Drink

Enjoy a global menu featuring barbecue ribs, gourmet burgers, tacos, pizza, curries, and local seafood. Vegetarian, vegan, and children’s options are available. Drinks include craft beers, real ciders, gin bars, cocktails, Prosecco, wine, smoothies, and coffee.

Music

Experience live bands and DJs performing rock, pop, acoustic covers, and dance anthems throughout the weekend. The festival features headline tribute acts and local musicians.

Family Activities

Children can enjoy play areas, face painting, and interactive games while parents relax at picnic spots and explore the artisan market with local crafts and souvenirs.

Poole Quay is easy to reach by public transport. Poole has its own train station on the South Western Railway line, with direct services from London Waterloo, Bournemouth and Weymouth. From Poole station, it's only a short bus or taxi ride to the Quay – some visitors even enjoy the 10-minute walk along the harbour. Local bus routes (operated by companies like Morebus) connect the Quay to the wider area, making travel simple without a car.

By air, Bournemouth International is the closest airport, about a 20-minute drive from Poole. You can hire a car or take a taxi directly to the Quay in roughly 20-30 minutes. Many visitors also fly into London Heathrow, Gatwick or Southampton and then catch a train or coach to Poole. High-speed trains from London reach Poole in 2-3 hours, putting you within easy reach of the festival by evening.

By car, Poole is conveniently reached via the A31/A35 corridor and the M27 motorway. When approaching town, follow signs for Poole Town Centre and continue to the Poole Quay waterfront. There are several public car parks by the Quay and in the town centre, but these can fill up during busy events. Plan to arrive early or use local park and ride services on event days to secure a spot and avoid town traffic.

There's no shortage of places to stay. Poole and neighbouring Bournemouth offer seaside hotels, cosy B&Bs, self-catering cottages and even holiday parks. If you're interested in a beach holiday, Sandbanks and Studland are a short drive away. Many festival guests choose to stay nearby and simply bus or taxi in for the weekend. Whatever you pick, remember that summer weekends sell out fast in this popular seaside area.