The ninth annual Christchurch Food & Wine Festival will be held 9–18 May.

The menu for the ten-day ICM-sponsored Christchurch Food & Wine Festival – 9-18 May – has been revealed, with tasty treats on offer including celebrity cookery demonstrations and a Junior Cook of the Year competition.

Now in its ninth year – Dr Alistair Somerville Ford, ICM’s Chairman, has been the event’s main sponsor for the past two years – the Festival offers fun activities and attractions for the thousands of visitors who flock to the historic town for the occasion.

2008 looks set to be no exception. Celebrity chefs Leslie Waters, who is also the Festival’s patron, Brian Turner, and Nick Nairn will all be indulging in cookery demonstrations and giving practical recipe tips, while chefs and representatives from Christchurch in New Zealand – twin town to Christchurch in Dorset – will be presenting some Kiwi culinary delights.

Visitors will have the opportunity to browse over 100 stalls selling a wide variety of food and drink, and can also take advantage of the numerous special offers available in Christchurch eateries during the Festival.

Mary Reader, the Festival’s President, is encouraging visitors to take advantage of all the activities on offer during the event’s ten days. She said: “This year’s programme is really exciting as there are a number of newcomers to the Festival as well as some of our regular contributors. So many establishments have agreed to take part that there really is something for everyone over the ten days of the Festival.”

Visit www.christchurchfoodfest.co.uk for full details about the Festival.

By Susanna Woods