The Festival

The Great British Truffle Festival is a one-of-a-kind celebration, connecting truffle enthusiasts of every kind, whether you’re a foodie, grower, hunter, nature-lover or chef. This festival is dedicated to showcasing Britain’s distinctive truffle ecosystem through an array of engaging activities, including delicious food, interactive talks, hands-on workshops, live cooking demonstrations, and truffle hound training sessions that you can enjoy with your own dog. At the heart of it all is the much-anticipated Truffle Hound Competition, a cornerstone of the event that not only celebrates the adorable, hard-working truffle dogs involved, but also underscores the festival’s standing as a globally recognised hub for truffle enthusiasts and experts.

What To Expect

Canine Companionship

🐶 Have-A-Go Arena 🐾

See if your dog has got the nose 🐕👃 or not! If not, don't worry, you could still win the Best Looking Hound Award 🏆among other prizes.

Gourmet Cooking Demonstration with Truffles

🍽️ Fine Foods Experience 🥘

Join us at the table, or savour the flavours with our cooking demos!

Truffle Hunting Dog in Action

🏆The Great British Truffle Hound Competition🏆

Enter at Bronze, Silver or Gold level with your truffle hound!

Ecological and scientific thoughts being shared by experts.

🎤 Expert Talks & Entertainment 🔬

Dive deeper with insights from the forefront of the truffle world and hands-on workshops.

Join the Movement

Secure your early bird spot and be part of preserving the legacy and delight of British truffles. Join the celebration of our natural heritage and culinary culture.

"Celebrating and Sustaining the Great British Truffle"

Our Story

Shaping a Sustainable Future for Truffle Hunting

At The Great British Truffle Festival, we're all about loving truffles responsibly. Our festival isn't just a celebration; it's a movement towards sustainable truffle hunting that doesn't harm our woodlands. We believe everyone should enjoy truffles in a way that's good for our planet. Through education, phenomenal food, canine companionship and community efforts, we're here to spread the word on how to treasure truffles without hurting their natural home.

Beginnings

Founded by Melissa, a renowned forager and woodland sustainability advocate, The Great British Truffle Festival is her vision brought to life. With decades of experience wandering the hills of the South Downs which provide a backdrop to the festival, Melissa's deep connection with woodland sustainability and truffle foraging has shaped a festival that's not just an event, but a journey into the heart of truffle appreciation.

Values

  • Truffle Hounding: We celebrate the indispensable role of dogs in sustainable truffle hunting, emphasizing the deep bond between humans and their canine companions. Our value lies in promoting practices that protect these valuable ecosystems while honouring our furry friends' key contribution to truffle discovery.
  • Truffle Hunting: Our commitment to truffle hunting goes beyond the thrill of the find; it's about respecting and preserving the environments where truffles flourish. We advocate for sustainable foraging methods that ensure the vitality of truffle habitats and their surrounding communities for future generations.
  • Gastronomy: Gastronomy at our festival is a feast for the senses, showcasing the finest local produce and truffle-infused creations. We value the art of cooking and the celebration of local flavours, bringing together foodies, chefs, restaurants and producers to explore the rich culinary culture nurtured by truffles.
  • Mycology Club: Our Mycology Club dives into the fascinating world of fungi, illuminating how truffles contribute to our planet's ecological balance. We value hands-on learning and sharing knowledge about the critical role of truffles and fungi in ecosystems, fostering a community passionate about mycological exploration and conservation.

Testimonials

“Today’s event has been fantastic. It’s been really well organised. The food’s been fantastic. It’s been great meeting all the truffle dogs and the handlers, it’s been really really good.”

- Prof. Paul Thomas

“Just landing and reflecting on an incredible day of truffly goodness at the Truffle Festival yesterday in Plumpton. Truffles were the enticer, but it was definitely the human connections that made the day for me.”

- Jesper Launder

“Some really lovely teams and what a fantastic day at The Great British Truffle Festival.”

- Stef Roulett

“Amazing Day yesterday at the Truffle Hound Competition and a very proud Dad moment with our boy Tembo coming 1st in the Gold Competition! We’ve had a great couple of weeks hunting and then competing & we have truffle supplies to last a lifetime!”

- Jonathan McGowan


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Getting To The Venue

The Great British Truffle Festival 2025 is being held at Plumpton Racecourse, East Sussex, BN7 3AL on November 22nd.
The venue is just a 10 minute walk from Plumpton train station and a 30-minute drive from the city of Brighton.

By Road

Plumpton Racecourse is situated on Plumpton Lane 1.5 miles off the B2116, and 8 miles from the A23, leaving at the Pyecombe services junction. Our signposted main entrance on Plumpton Lane is 200 yards beyond the bridge on the left (coming from Ditching) and 0.5 miles past the train station (coming through Plumpton Green), up the hill on the right.

By Rail

Plumpton station is situated at the bottom of the course and is less than a 5-minute walk to the North entrance. Plumpton is served by a regular train service between London Victoria and Eastbourne/Hastings.

Parking

Parking is available on site however, we do encourage you to car-share where possible. All-day parking will be £4 and must be purchased online with your ticket order or via this page here.

Helpful Info

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we are have a large variety of British and European truffle available to purchase, depending on seasonal availability.

Yes, parking is available on site. Please purchase an all-day parking ticket for £4 online in advance.

Yes, there are two designated accessible (blue badge) parking spaces at Plumpton Racecourse. For more information, please visit their website.

Of course, as long as there’s space left - you’re welcome!

Absolutely! We welcome your furry friends. Before bringing your dog, please assess their comfort with crowds as our event can get bustling with people and other dogs. For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, keep your dog on a short, non-retractable lead at all times and ensure they're comfortable in lively environments. Fresh water will be provided, but we ask you to bring your own waste bags and clean up after your pet. When buying tickets, let us know how many dogs you’re bringing. For the well-being of all our guests, please familiarise yourself with our Animal Welfare Guidelines and check out the full event and ticket T&Cs for more details.

If you would like to enter your dog into The Truffle Hound Competition, please purchase a competitor ticket. This will allow entry for you and your dog into the festival and entry into the competition at whichever level you feel comfortable in. Competitor tickets include entry for one dog and owner.

Yes, you will be able to watch the competition from the designated viewing area on the racecourse, or from the Lewes Grand Stand where we would recommend bringing binoculars if you have some.

You will find the contact details for nearby emergency vets at the ticket office. If whilst at the event, you become concerned for a dog's welfare, please contact a member of the events team.

Yes, as well as an accessible toilet.

Tickets will be scanned at the entrance to the festival. You can either bring printed tickets or show the e-ticket on your phone.

Yes, we offer free entry for carers. You will need to book tickets for everyone else in your group but the carers will receive complimentary entry. Please email info@greatbritishfestival.com with your booking number along with one of the following documentation – a photocopy of blue badge, PIP or DLA letter. Our event team will then issue a carer ticket to the original bookers email free of charge.

We recommend using a different browser or device and if the problem persists, please email our team at info@greatbritishfestival.com and we will be happy to help.

There is a 14-day grace period from the date of ticket purchase where you will receive a full refund, unless your booking is made within 30 days of the festival date. If you are unable to attend, you can re-sell your tickets through Tixel, the preferred and only resale platform of TicketTailor.

Yes, as long as the attendee has your booking confirmation with the original tickets.

Yes, security will issue a re-entry wristband on your way out. Please ensure you collect one as you will not be able to get back in without this.

Yes, please visit the Partners & Traders section, info will be available soon with regular updates on who will be joining us on the day.

Yes, we'll have a number of vendors selling hot and cold drinks and a variety of food. Please visit the Partners & Traders section; info will be available soon with regular updates on who will be joining us on the day.

No, however you will be able to pay with either cash or card at most of the traders on-site.

Yes there will be a first aider on site or a member of staff with St Johns Ambulance certificate; however we manage and minimise the risk of this eventuality through guidelines and rules.

Plumpton train station, which takes you directly to the venue!