Food glorious food takes the limelight as festival returns

The free festival, now in its fifth year, returns to the Pump Room Gardens next weekend (Saturday September 8 and Sunday September 9), where more than 130 exhibitors and a range of live entertainment and demonstrations is expecting to draw crowds of thousands.

This year there will be a live cookery theatre from the Love Food Roadshow and a children’s ‘Make and Bake’ cookery school, where youngsters can learn how to make cupcakes and scones.

There will also be cookery masterclasses for serious cooks who want to take their culinary skills to another level, with workshops and advice from specialists based in the area.

Live entertainment on the bandstand will be provided by musicians including the Sheila Fawkes Jazz Band, Gebby Eaton and Lament who bring together a fusion of Latin, jazz and flamenco music.

The popular taste trail will feature once again, where people will have the chance to sample food from an array of restaurants, pubs and cafes in the town for £1. Tickets for will be on sale at the Royal Priors tomorrow (Saturday) and on Sunday from 10am to 4pm or at the information tent at the festival itself.

New this year is a coffee trail, where participating coffee houses offer visitors a free teaor coffee with any purchase.

The festival, which last year attracted more than 20,000 visitors, is organised by BID Leamington and funded by businesses based in the town.

Stephanie Kerr, director of BID Leamington, said: “We are aiming to make this year even more colourful and full of interesting food and drink, much of it very local to Leamington. It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to come together and sample the very best food, drink and entertainment that the area has to offer.”

To find out more and to enter a draw to win a £250 hamper, visit www.leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk