When and where is the Catering Innovation Show 2026?

Monday 5 October 2026 at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.

Does it cost anything to attend?

No. Attending is free of charge, but it is a trade-only event and registrations are verified.

When does online registration close?

At 5:00 pm on Sunday 4 October. After that, visitors register at the main registration desk at the Business Design Centre.

Yes, there is a 256-space car park on site next to the venue.

The Catering Innovation Show 2026

Name: The Catering Innovation Show 2026
Start: 2026-10-05T09:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-10-05T17:00:00+00:00
Location: Business Design Centre

About this event

The Catering Innovation Show is a one-day trade event for commercial catering equipment, run by Lockhart Catering Equipment, part of Bunzl's Catering & Hospitality division. The 2026 show is its second edition and brings manufacturers, suppliers, chefs and foodservice operators together at the Business Design Centre in Islington, with live demonstrations and chef-led sessions aimed at medium to large-scale operations.

Who attends

The show is strictly for trade professionals working in hospitality, foodservice or retail; registrations are verified and under-18s are not admitted.

Restaurants and hotels
Contract caterers
Healthcare and public-sector catering
Stadia and leisure venues
Buyers of kitchen equipment, tableware and consumables

2026 programme

A Live Theatre run by The Staff Canteen hosts chef demonstrations through the day, while the RATIONAL Competition Theatre stages the Compass Chef of the Year, held in public for the first time in nine years.

Gareth Ward of Ynyshir opens the Live Theatre at 10:00
Chef demos from Mark Tuttiett (Da Terra), Ben Murphy, Tom Shepherd, Lisa Goodwin-Allen (Northcote) and Tommy Banks
Public Sector Alliance discussion on public-sector catering careers at 12:15
Compass Chef of the Year: Junior stage 10:00 to 13:00, Senior final 13:00 to 16:00
Charity raffle for Prept with a top prize of £5,000 of catering equipment

Key figures

The inaugural show in 2025 brought together more than 70 exhibitors and 1,100 attendees, according to the organiser. The event app lets visitors check in, view the agenda and connect with suppliers in advance.