British Street Food Festival final: Caravans, trucks and tuk-tuks to take over London’s O2 arena

At last year’s festival in Leeds, 7,000 people showed up to sample the dishes on offer

Richard Johnson, organiser of the British Street Food Festival, (Jason Alden)

Street food can be the best of both worlds – like a home-cooked meal without the washing-up, or a high-quality restaurant experience without the high prices.

The final of the British Street Food Festival and Awards, which will be held next weekend, showcase the best of what’s possible with a truck, caravan or even a rickshaw, and a little heat.

Now in their sixth year, they are the brainchild of Richard Johnson, a food critic who was determined to replicate the “vibrant street-food culture” he had experienced abroad in destinations as diverse as Morocco, India and the US.

At last year’s festival in Leeds, 7,000 people showed up to sample the dishes on offer. This year’s cook-off is taking place at London’s O2 arena.

This year’s cook-off is taking place at London’s O2 arena

Organisers and competitors are determined to challenge British expectations of street food and encourage people to experience fresh, exciting dishes that don’t cost a fortune. Next weekend’s event follows several months of regional heats in Cornwall, Oxford, Cardiff and Newcastle and the finalists will be presenting crèmes brûlées, surprising sushi combos, Argentinian ribs, crab burgers – even a Canadian-themed pizza ...

Although the event is being held in the capital, Mr Johnson insists street food is “not just a London thing or a hipster thing – it’s a British thing.

“It’s not overly professional and polished, but it’s done with love. You can see the person who runs the business, you’re much closer to it. It’s about keeping it real instead of a cookie-cutter restaurant brand.”

At the festival, traders’ handiwork will be sized up by Mr Johnson and his fellow judges – chefs Giorgio Locatelli and Neil Rankin and the actress and award-winning food writer Fay Ripley. Awards will be handed to the chefs who serve the best main, dessert, snack, sandwich and vegetarian dishes. There is also a people’s choice award, the winner of which will be determined by a public vote.

But it’s not just about the food. This year, Mr Johnson and his team have collaborated with Universal Music, which will provide a selection of live performances. “Music and food belong together,” he says. “Food consumed without a soundtrack makes for a lesser experience – whether that’s great conversation, live music or DJs.”

One of the biggest names on the line-up is Shahid Khan, better known by his stage name Naughty Boy.

It’s not a straightforward gig for Khan, though. An avid foodie, he will also be serving up dishes from his Naughty Kitchen van. “He was really into it last year,” Mr Johnson says. “This year I’m as excited by his garam masala shepherd’s pie as I am about his performance.”

The British Street Food Festival and Awards final, sponsored by The Independent on Sunday takes place on 5 December (11am-11pm) and 6 December (11am-6pm), at The Quadrant at the O2, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX; tickets, which include a free pint of Sharp’s beer, cost £5 (under-18s go free); www.britishstreetfood.co.uk