The Soho Village Fete, Soho’s annual community summer event, returns this July with with a fun-filled family-friendly agenda that’ll have everybody entertained!
Expect Drag Queens, Snail Racing, Dog Show and bohemian Soho-ites. This year’s Fete will serve up the usual eclectic mix of Waiter’s Race, Soho Police vs. Fire Station Tug of War, Human Fruit Machine, Spaghetti Eating contest, and six hours of live music and entertainment, plus a raffle with prizes donated by the best of Soho’s hotels and restaurants. The Soho Village Fete, originated over 70 years ago, reborn in the 1970’s as a traditional village fete, in London’s most central of villages.
The Fete’s main event, is the Soho Waiters Race at 3pm. Returning to compete is Endri, a waiter from Dean St. Townhouse, who’s going for the hatrick having won the last two years. Winning the triple will make Soho history! Soho waiters come under starter’s orders, outside The French House Pub, Dean Street at 3pm. Waiters, Bartenders and Baristas from the square mile will put their pace and balancing skills to the test in a bid to win a trophy and cash prize. The Race routes up Dean Street, round Soho Square and back down Frith Street, tracking across Romilly Street and back to the French… all whilst balancing a tray topped with bottle of champagne, a glass and ashtray for good measure! The rules are strict and competition fierce. Waiters must navigate Soho streets, without dropping their champagne or glass, or holding on. The race has 100 volunteer marshals who keep an eagle-eye out for rule breakers.
The Fete’s will also feature; the Tug of War, Soho Police vs. Soho Fire Station, with the Soho Police looking for a win after 2 years of defeat.
Do not miss the Human Fruit Machine, Snail Racing, Dog Show, Bric a Brac, spaghetti eating contest, “More Tea Vicar!” with the Vicars of St Anne’s Church, Splat the Rat and a bar run by historic French House Pub, stalls from Soho Businesses and community groups including Soho Parish School, and 6 hours of live stage entertainment, rounded off with a drag queen finale.
The Fete is free to attend, so, grab your friends, family and children and head down to enjoy a uniquely Soho, summer festival, all welcome!
The Soho Fete and Waiter’s race, is a Soho Community event organised by a team of volunteers from The Soho Society, a charity founded in 1972 to make Soho a better place to live, work and visit.
Soho Fete Running Order:
12pm Fete Opens
12.30 Spaghetti Eating Competition
1.00 The Soho Dog Show
2:00 The Tug of War – Soho Police vs. Soho Fire Station
3:00 The Soho Waiters Race (Starts outside The French House, Dean Street) 4:45 The Raffle Draw
6:00 Fete Closes
VENUE: St Anne’s Gardens, Wardour Street, Soho, London W1D 6LB
DATE: Sunday 16th July 2022
TIME: 12-6pm
ENTRY: FREE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter/ Facebook/ Instagram: @SohoSocietyW1
RAFFLE FROM 15th JUNE: http://www.thesohosociety.org.uk DRAWN AT THE FETE – 4.45PM TICKETS: Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/645340991277
SOHO F&B/HOSPITALITY: Enter the Soho Waiters Race HERE
DOG SHOW: Enter HERE
Turn up early from 12pm!
Fete Poster: Cartoonist David Shenton 2023 @David Shenton
📍 St Anne’s Gardens, Wardour Street, Soho, London W1D 6LB
Photography courtesy of The Soho Society
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