THE CHRISTCHURCH Food Festival is set to return this year with a jam-packed line-up featuring chef demonstrations, local food traders, live entertainment and refreshing drinks over the bank holiday weekend.

The free-to-attend festival has been running for over 20 years but was forced to cancel last year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

However, organisers of the popular event, which will be held exclusively on Christchurch Quay, say that this year’s instalments is going to be the “best yet”.

A spokesman from Christchurch Food Festival said: “Last year saw the first break in its history due to the pandemic so we are delighted to be bringing the event back this August in a safe and secure environment.

"Regular visitors will notice that we have changed the timing of the event from the usual May date - the idea of postponing for a second year and the effect it would have on traders, suppliers, freelance event staff and the local community was not an option.

"We would like to thank BCP and Christchurch Town Council for fully supporting the event and working with us to make it happen.

"We are also delighted to announce new sponsorship partners – our headline sponsor Saxe Coburg Property Experts, and pop-up sponsor, Shorefield Holidays, whose support is crucial in allowing us to continue this free community event."

To build excitement ahead of the festival, which will kick off on Saturday August 28, Southbourne businesses Terroir Tapas and The Larder House have set up a pop-up on The Quomps which opened on Friday August 20.

Hosted by the team behind the successful Lymington Pop Up held last September, the pop up will run from August 20 – 25 and August 28-30, with sessions throughout the day.

It will run as restaurant service, with tables needing to be secured by visiting the event page.

The three-day food festival will feature a range of street food stalls and a host of live cooking demonstrations from the likes of TV chef Rosemary Schrager, chef James Golding of acclaimed The Pig Hotel and Alex Aitken, Chef Patron for Harbour Hotels.

The spokesman added: “Working with local food groups, Dorset Food and Drink and Hampshire Fare, the event will showcase and celebrate some of the best small food and drink producers from the region as well as street food, local breweries and distilleries, and a host of entertainment.

“The best local chefs will be firing up their grills and readying their ovens throughout the weekend alongside some of the biggest names in the UK in the Chef Demo Theatre.

“Each guest star will take to the stage, sharing tips and recipes with festival-goers in a series of interactive demos and tastings.

“There will also be music on the bandstand, live sheep at the Sheep Show, a special entertainment stage and, for the first time ever, the launch of the new pop-up restaurant.”

The festival also supports the Christchurch Food Festival Education Trust which focuses on promoting healthy eating in local schools and a special deal with the Yellow Buses company hopes to reduce visitors’ carbon footprint and encourage more sustainable travel too.

The event will be open from 10am to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday, with an earlier closing time of 5pm on Monday.

To find out more, visit christchurchfoodfest.co.uk.