WIMBORNE is serving up a new food festival to celebrate the town’s great offering of food and drink eateries, retailers and artisan producers.

The Wimborne Food Festival is taking place next Saturday (September 14), with events tastings, demos and talks all taking place around the town from 11am until 4pm.

The main festival site is at Willow Walk near Waitrose where a host of foodie aficionados will be giving free talks and insights.

Festival goers will be able to meet the Great British Bake Off contestant, Maggie Richardson, discover the secrets of Indonesian cooking with Yayu Slocock, author, chef and owner of A Taste of Rasa Sayang, hear from Kingston Lacy head gardener Andrew Hunt and café manager Phil Anderson, and get top tips from Michael Russell, head pastry chef of Le Petit Prince Patisserie and cake maker to royalty.

Great British Bake Off contestant Maggie Richardson Picture: Wimborne BID

You’ll be able to wash this down with a guided beer tasting by Laura Green, co-owner of independent craft beer bar The Butcher’s Dog. You can also browse the food and drink stalls and enjoy a pint at the pop-up Butcher’s Dog bar.

“Your senses will no doubt be drawn to East Street and the smell of a delicious barbecue, as independent butcher Paul Keating serves up the finest Dorset-reared meats,” said festival organisers.

“Don’t let your culinary adventure stop there as the whole of East Street will be closed to traffic to create alfresco dining plus food and tastings stalls and great live music throughout the day.”

Church Street and Wimborne Square will also be offering alfresco food and drink with tempting festival lunchtime offers from Ten Bottles Tapas and Wine Bar and Piazzo Lounge. If your appetite is still unsated, Walford Mill is holding a Courtyard Market with free food-themed family crafts.

Enjoy tastings in Salamander Cookshop Picture: Wimborne BID

Organisers added: “The festival coincides with fairtrade fortnight so come and celebrate the town’s renewal as a fairtrade community.

“Visit the Minster Green for free samples, discover the stories behind the produce and easy recipes between 10am – 2pm with Wimborne and Colehill Fairtrade Community.”

There’s also the opportunity for attendees to get stuck in and bake a Dorset apple cake for the Dacombes of Wimborne Cake Competition.

Open to bakers of all ages, participants are encouraged to create their most delicious and visually stunning Dorset apple cake and bring them to the marquee on Willow Walk at 2.30pm where BBC Repair Shop star Sonnaz Nooranvary will be the celebrity judge.

BBC Repair Shop star Sonnaz Nooranvary Picture: Wimborne BID

Up for grabs is a top prize of Neff cooking pans to the value of £150 kindly donated by Dacombes of Wimborne.

Many shops are offering special promotions and competitions throughout the day. Head to the High Street and Wimborne’s independent and multi award-winning Salamander Cookshop for tastings and special offers and keep your eyes peeled for the clue in Gulliver’s Bookshop food-themed window to be in with a chance of winning a fancy recipe book.

The Wimborne Food Festival is sponsored by Wimborne BID and Dacombes of Wimborne.

Dacombes of Wimborne managing director Matt Renaut said: “Wimborne has so much to offer when it comes to food and drink and this new festival is a wonderful way of showcasing that on one special day.

“Local businesses along with the support of Wimborne BID have worked really hard to make this happen and we hope it will become an annual event.”

Pick up a full Festival programme at Museum of East Dorset and from local businesses or visit Wimborne Food Festival – Visit Wimborne Website

Matt Renaut Dacombes of Wimborne Picture: Wimborne BID