The Big Lunch gets tails and chins wagging at Battersea Power Station
With one week to go until the nation’s biggest celebration of neighbourhoods and communities, national treasure Angela Rippon hosted a special Big Lunch today [29 May] bringing dogs and people together at the iconic Battersea Power Station. Getting the party started, the event aimed to encourage the nation to ‘be more dog’ and spend some time socialising at The Big Lunch on 7 – 8 June!
The special event coincides with the launch of new YouGov data, commissioned by The Big Lunch, which reveals that nearly two-thirds of UK adults (62%) agree that dogs are more sociable than humans, and that this is the quality we envy most in our pets, with more than four in ten people (43%) agreeing that dogs’ ability to socialise readily is a trait they would like to have themselves. Inspired by the new findings, the Eden Project, who are behind The Big Lunch, are calling on people to get tails and chins wagging at the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours.
The special Big Lunch at Battersea Power Station saw 15 dogs gather to tuck into a spread fit for the most pampered of pooches, with Angela Rippon taking on hosting duties. Among the group of dogs and owners joining the party were Ted the Terrier, star of BBC series Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing and ITV newsreader Lucrezia Millarini with her dog Milo, as well as guide dog puppies, Dr Amit Patel, a visually impaired doctor turned advocate and CBeebies star, along with his retired guide dog Kika and new guide dog Quark. Some of the country’s most influential pets tucked in too, racking up thousands of followers between them. They included George and Lulu (@missdarcysadventures), Mojo (@mojothecavapoochon) and Buxton (@buxtoninlondon).
Further data from the new research from The Big Lunch reveals that dogs are the ultimate conversation starter for Brits in 2025 – two in five UK adults (42%) agree that meeting someone with a dog helps them to initiate conversation, outranking typically British topics including the weather (33%) and delays in public transport (28%).
With a week to go until The Big Lunch weekend, organisers behind the initiative are encouraging people to get conversation flowing with their neighbours on 7 and 8 June, leading to vital social connections and closer-connected communities. The Big Lunch is an idea from the Eden Project made possible with support from the Pears Foundation and partners Co-op and Greene King. The annual initiative sees millions of people join in at street parties, picnics and get-togethers up and down the country.
Also getting involved in the fun were volunteers from Guide Dogs, who came along with their guide dog puppies to highlight the risk of social isolation for visually-impaired people and the importance of creating inclusive opportunities for communities to spend time together and socialise. They were joined by dogs who were rehomed from nearby Battersea Cats and Dogs Home and are now enjoying life with their new owners.
Backing The Big Lunch is iconic broadcaster Angela Rippon, who hosted today’s event. Angela said: “Today’s Big Lunch certainly proves that there’s a lot we could learn from our furry friends! As well as being fantastic conversation starters, dogs exemplify the open and sociable qualities that we could all do with embracing a little more. With The Big Lunch just around the corner, there’s no better opportunity to break down those social barriers where you live and get chatting to your neighbours!”
With the iconic Battersea Power Station as the backdrop, dog breeds ranging from cockapoos and spaniels to labradors and terriers tucked in with gusto to their Big Lunch. Down in Cornwall, people and dogs at the Eden Project are already getting into The Big Lunch spirit, with a group of dogs enjoying a Big Lunch of their own in front of the biomes earlier this week. As a proudly dog-friendly venue, Eden is offering anyone who visits with a canine companion over The Big Lunch weekend (7-8 June), the chance to get a pet portrait of their canine companion, and is encouraging dog owners to come along and make the most of the dog-friendly walking routes around the site.
Joining the paw-ty too are Flaming Grill pubs, who are hosting hundreds of community dog walks on Sunday 22 June. Pubs across the country will be hosting a three-kilometre circular walk, providing the perfect chance to make new human and dog friends along the way!
Just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Battersea Power Station, rescue dogs from neighbouring animal welfare charity, Battersea, also joined the celebrations to meet with members of the local community and champion rescue. The Battersea dogs enjoyed time socialising with other dogs and humans, whilst being pampered with special dog treats – supporting the charity’s vital work to offer the animals in their care new experiences and socialisation before finding new homes.
Playing host to today’s event, Battersea Power Station prides itself as a dog-friendly destination, with many of the 150 shops, bars, restaurants and leisure venues open at the riverside neighbourhood welcoming four-legged friends to join their owners for a spot of shopping and a bite to eat. Battersea Power Station will also be hosting a food and drink focused event between 6-8 June, perfect for those looking for somewhere to host their Big Lunch celebrations.
The Big Lunch is an idea from the Eden Project made possible with support from the Pears Foundation and partners Co-op and Greene King. It’s the UK’s annual celebration for neighbours and the biggest community-led fundraiser, bringing millions of people together in a nationwide act of friendship in June every year since 2009. Her Majesty The Queen has been patron since 2013.
Find out more and access free resources to get the party started at www.TheBigLunch.com
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