The event saw excited dogs tucking into a vast array of tantalising treats including a special dog-friendly cake made by the Eden Project’s head chef Mike Greer, and enjoying some play time with a host of toys, all aimed to encourage the nation to ‘be more dog’ by spending some time socialising at The Big Lunch on June 7 and 8.
The special moment coincides with the launch of new YouGov data, commissioned by The Big Lunch, which reveals that nearly two-thirds of people (62%) think 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 the trait they would most like to have themselves.
Further data from the research reveals that dogs are the ultimate conversation starter for Brits in 2025 – four in ten people (42%) agree that meeting someone with a dog helps them to get chatting, outranking typically British topics including the weather (33%) and 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 June 7 and 8, leading to vital social connections and closer-connected communities.
While millions of people across the UK will be coming together for The Big Lunch in their streets and neighbourhoods to share friendship, food and fun, the home of the Big Lunch will be welcoming guests and their furry companions to enjoy the beautiful Eden Project site together.
All adults who visit the Eden Project during The Big Lunch weekend will receive a voucher to sit down and enjoy a free hot drink together and there will be free treats available for dogs at catering outlets across site. On Sunday June 8, there will also be the opportunity for visitors to have a special portrait photograph taken of their dog to remember their visit by.
The Eden Project’s unique setting provides a fun, interactive and social atmosphere for humans and their dogs alike, with a huge variety of places and spaces to connect with each other and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of nature.
During the Big Lunch weekend, and for the first time, visitors and their four-legged friends will be able to sit down together inside Eden's main catering outlet, the Biome Kitchen, to relax and enjoy food and drinks with their faithful companions.
Visitors are also able to take their dogs throughout all three floors of the Core building, offering an escape from the sun and a chance to see the impressive breathing ceramic sculpture Infinity Blue and the iconic Seed sculpture in its specially-designed chamber.
A further indoor area for visitors with dogs to unwind with refreshments is the Coffee House in the Visitor Centre, perfectly situated for the start and end of a visit.
These spaces complement an extensive offering for dog owners which features over 20 acres of beautiful outdoor gardens, rich with over 3,000 varieties of plants. Across vast slopes, the gardens provide lovely places to walk through both cultivated and wild landscapes, allowing a calming, engaging and transportive experience for dogs and their owners.
The design of the Eden Project’s Outdoor Gardens means that there are ample opportunities to spend time in the sunshine, whilst also providing relaxed, shady areas for both humans and animals to cool off such as the stunning Myth and Folklore Garden and Japanese Garden.
Additionally, areas such as the Orchard, with the iconic Biomes as a backdrop, offer ideal spots to enjoy a picnic or an ice cream. Dog-friendly ice cream supplied by Roskillys is also available to purchase on site in a choice of carrot, banana and apple or butternut squash and blueberry. Dog drinking stations are located throughout the site to ensure water is always nearby and accessible.
The Eden Project’s retail spaces also offer a wide range of quality products for dogs including healthy treats baked in Cornwall from Green & Wild’s, sustainable toys by Beco, leads and accessories.
To complement a visit to the Eden Project, dog walkers can also enjoy incredible walks through the 72-hectare Outer Estate, which is free for visitors to park, roam and explore. Here they will find wildflower fields overlooking St Austell Bay, verdant woodlands, magnificent monkey puzzle trees, orchards, an ancient peatbog and artworks within the landscape.
Lindsey Brummitt, Programme Director at the Eden Project, said: “It’s been fantastic to bring together a group of dogs who are as enthused about getting to know new people as we are at The Big Lunch! So, while you might feel barking mad approaching your neighbours and inviting them to share a bite to eat together, we know that better connected communities are happier and more resilient to the challenges life throws at us. So don’t be shy, channel your inner dog and spend a bit of time socialising either at home with your neighbours, or here at the Eden Project, at The Big Lunch on 7-8 June!”
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.
