Lunch! and National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show to join forces in London Food & Drink Festival

Hospitality exhibitions lunch! and the National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show (formerly called Casual Dining) will be part of umbrella brand the London Food & Drink Festival from this year’s event onwards.

The festival, set to take place at Excel London on 16-17 September 2026, will also incorporate the Natural & Organic Food Show and the Artisan Food & Drink Show.

The new umbrella brand will create a one-stop destination for trade professionals to see the latest innovations and new products across the hospitality and retail sectors. It is expected to welcome 15,000 attendees, more than 600 exhibitors and host seven stages.

Organised by Diversified UK & Europe, the London Food & Drink Festival will showcase major industry speakers, trend-setting features and networking alongside a curated programme of exhibitors incorporating cutting-edge technology, equipment and packaging, finished products, ingredients, sustainability and artisan specialities.

Carsten Holm, managing director of Diversified UK & Europe, said: “We have always been incredibly proud of our unique, high-quality events serving key verticals within the hospitality and food retail sectors, each of which have a track-record of delivering the most innovative exhibitors, the most forward-thinking buyers and the best content programme.

“But the lines between sectors are becoming more blurred, with many companies operating across sectors, so this is an incredibly exciting time, offering even more value for both exhibitors and visitors.”

The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show rebranded from Casual Dining for its 2025 edition to “better reflect the full range of hospitality operators who regularly attend the event”.

The name change also reflected the event’s link with the Northern Restaurant & Bar Show in Manchester, which Diversified acquired in 2022.