More than 5,000 residents helped make this year’s Big Lunches a record-breaking success.
The five events, in East Tilbury, South Ockendon, Chadwell St Mary, Corringham and Blackshots, saw thousands of residents coming together for afternoons of activities, entertainment, sport and community connection.
The Big Lunches were delivered through a partnership between Start Thurrock, Thurrock Council, Thurrock CVS, Impulse Leisure and Active Essex, and the support of volunteers helping create enjoyable Big Lunches for local families and communities.
Cllr George Monk, Portfolio Holder for Deregulation, Efficiency and Civic Pride, said: “The Big Lunches show the best of our borough with people coming together to create such memorable days. A huge thank you to all the entertainers, partners, community groups, stall holders and volunteers who made these summer events so special.”
The overall attendance figures for this year’s Big Lunches were greater than in 2025.
Our final Big Lunch, earlier this week at Blackshots, saw an estimated 1,800 attendees through the day, the biggest attendance of any Big Lunch we've held over the years.
Katie Beadle, Creative Director at Start Thurrock, which organised creative activities at each event, said: “We went out with a bang this year, with our final Big Lunch in Blackshots attracting our biggest ever turnout. The Big Lunches are all about bringing communities together and giving people the chance to get involved in a variety of activities right on their doorstep. It was fantastic to see more people from more parts of Thurrock enjoying such a wide range of cultural experiences.”
If you attended any of our Big Lunches, please take a few minutes to complete our short survey. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will use it to make future events and activities better than ever.
Big Lunches 2026 - Public Survey
Image: Big Lunch at Chadwell St Mary on 5 August 2026
