TUCK in your napkins and work up an appetite because today sees the return of Bournemouth’s very own Food and Drink Festival, where for 10 days the town will come alive to the smell of cooking.

Having grown from a small three-day trial the festival organisers are promising a foodie event to remember.

Bournemouth Square will become the Festival Hub from June 21-June 30, with a 10-day Street Food Festival, a three-day World Food Market, a Mediterranean Day, a Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean Day, a Far East Day, a four day Education Zone in partnership with Bournemouth and Poole College alongside eight Bournemouth Schools, The Dorset Best Bloody Mary Competition in association with the Bournemouth Bartenders League, a farmers and producers’ market, and a demonstration kitchen.

Roger Parker, town centre manager for Bournemouth Tourism, said: “Bournemouth is the shop window for the entire county of Dorset and the immediate hinterland.

“We have a unique opportunity to present the very best of Dorset to our resident population and the millions of visitors who visit the town each year.

“This has a double advantage, it provides a great experience for the visitor and a ready market for the producer.

“Everybody has to eat, so why not indulge in the array and quality of what our local producers can bring to the town centre – events like this can turn you on to a new type of cooking, new flavours and new places to go and eat and experience.

“I like the chefs’ demonstrations – to see a master craftsman at work is delightful, and you can pick up some really good tips from just watching what’s going on.

“To have activity and entertainment taking place throughout the day and into the evening is especially important. These are some of the longest days in the year, how splendid to be able to spend time in a lovely environment and have ready access to sustenance and entertainment until late, exactly what the town needs.”

Other events will be held around the town including The Barons of Beef Festival Launch Event hosted by the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, a Soul Food and Music event at the Triangle, festival menus at some of Bournemouth best eateries, a food quiz at Flirt Cafe, pictured above, and loads of discounted offers at hostels and restaurants to keep everyone eating and enjoying themselves.

Bournemouth Town Centre Management Board chairman Nigel Hedges said: “The Bournemouth Food and Drink Festival increases footfall and interest in the town centre, attracting back people who we have been missing over the years.

“The Festival shows Bournemouth is open for businesses and its links with education and the local hotel industry shows Bournemouth what it is best at.

“I’m looking forward to exciting my palate, you can sample all sorts of nibbles, it’s a gastronomic journey.”

The Bournemouth Food & Drink Festival starts today. See our exclusive supplement in today’s Daily Echo or bournemouthfoodanddrink.co.uk