Park and ride returns for Brecon Beacons Food Festival
Free bus service from Cattle Market to Brecon Market Hall on 3 October, with £3 donations supporting Accessibility Powys, aims to ease parking and boost festival accessibility.
A free park and ride service will be reinstated for the Brecon Beacons Food Festival on Saturday 3 October, shuttling visitors from the town’s Cattle Market to Brecon Market Hall while raising £3 per vehicle for Accessibility Powys.
The shuttle will operate between 10 am and 4 pm, run by Williams Coaches, and will cost nothing to use beyond the modest parking donation.
Drivers will leave their cars at the Cattle Market, where a £3 contribution is collected before boarding a bus that makes regular trips to the festival site.
All proceeds from the parking fee are directed to Accessibility Powys, a registered pan‑disability charity that supports disabled residents across the county.
Accessibility Powys aims to break down physical, emotional and societal barriers, offering advice, equipment and advocacy to improve everyday life for its members.
Festival organiser Andrew Powell said the service offers a simple solution to the town’s notorious parking crunch during the event.
“We’re delighted to be bringing the Park & Ride back for another year,” he said.
Powell added that Williams Coaches’ sponsorship makes the shuttle free and represents a “fantastic contribution towards making the festival as accessible and enjoyable as possible”.
He also highlighted the partnership with Accessibility Powys, noting that each £3 donation “helps to raise valuable funds for the charity” and showcases local organisations working together for the community.
The Brecon Beacons Food Festival is a highlight of the town’s calendar, drawing more than 60 food and drink producers to the historic Market Hall.
Stalls will feature Welsh cheese, charcuterie, vineyard wines, craft brews and a range of international flavours, complemented by live music and family‑friendly entertainment.
Headline sponsors Castell Howell and Beacons Foods back the event, with additional funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Powys County Council.
Entry to the festival remains free, reinforcing its not‑for‑profit ethos and focus on celebrating Welsh culinary heritage.
Organisers hope the park and ride will ease traffic congestion and improve access for families, elderly visitors and those with disabilities.
Local residents have welcomed the initiative, recalling that previous festivals often left the town centre gridlocked with cars.
Buses are scheduled to depart the Cattle Market roughly every fifteen minutes during peak periods, ensuring a steady flow of attendees.
Attendees are advised to arrive early to secure a parking space and to take full advantage of the diverse range of stalls and demonstrations on offer.
The festival programme runs from 10 am until the late afternoon, featuring cooking demos, tastings and a packed entertainment line‑up.
Further details about the festival and the park and ride service are available on the official Brecon Beacons Food Festival website.
Eli Nathan
Eli Nathan covers Wales news, politics, community stories, and sports for The National Wales (thenational.wales).
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