Final preparations are in hand for this weekend’s Beccles Food and Drink Festival showcasing a variety of local producers.

The festival will see 65 stalls set up in New Market, St Michael’s Church and the Public Hall selling a variety of raw and cooked food, preserves, pickles, oils and other condiments, confectionery, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, along with a programme of cookery demonstrations and talks.

The festival will be held on Saturday, May 26, from 10am to 4pm.

The cookery theatre, also being staged at the Public Hall, kicks off at 10am with an introduction by David Patterson, of East Coast College, which is running this aspect of the festival for a second year, followed by one of the college’s Level 3 students, Ellie Gregory, demonstrating her skills.

Then Alex Harrison of Harrison Chocolatiers will show how working with temperatures can result in the crisp chocolate we all love, with David Nash, head chef at Andover House in Great Yarmouth, taking to the stage next to demonstrate how to give a few traditional dishes a modern twist.

Jim’s Butchers will then show how lamb is butchered and the various cuts that result. Lynn Lockwood, chocolate sommelier and founder of the Norwich Chocolate Festival will show how to taste chocolate properly, followed by chef lecturer Mr Patterson and East Coast College students demonstrating how to make a chicken liver pate for a dinner party. Rounding off the theatre demonstrations is Mark Jermy, owner of nearby Fishmonger at No.4, who will show how to prepare a whole sea bass, and give tips on how to choose when buying fish.

While all of this is going on, there will be children’s entertainment at St Michael’s Church, where Punch and Judy Shows will be held at 11am, noon, 1.30pm and 2.30pm, and face painting will be available for the little ones.

Paul Parravani, from Beccles Business and Tourism Association, which is organising the event jointly with Beccles Lions, said: “The Food and Drink Festival, together with bell tower opening and the start of the lido summer season is set to make Beccles the place to be this bank holiday weekend.”

Visitors are encouraged to use public transport to the town, or make use of the free park and ride minibuses from the festival car park at Beccles Quay.

Full details on the event can be found at www.becclesfoodfestival.co.uk