Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival gets under way

Thousands attended the first day of Our Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival yesterday - with more events today.

A full menu of treats, a theatre kitchen and family fun has been laid on this year, starting at 10am.

Held in the town centre, it features stalls selling a range of cuisines from around the world.

The Stoves Cookery Theatre, in Cornhill, features demonstration from top local chefs.

Sunday's demonstrations started with Still Good Food at 10am; 1921 at 11am; West Suffolk College at noon; Maison Bleue at 1pm; Forage Kitchen at 2pm; The Northgate at 3pm and Lilian’s Kitchen at 4pm.

Today's demonstrations begin with Sally Bycroft and Maria Broadbent demonstrating that 'rice is nice' at 11am, followed by Casa at noon; ICE at 1pm; Vino Gusto’s wine professional at 2pm; Three Kings at 3pm and Baskerville’s cocktails at 4pm.

Mark Cordell, chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds, said: “Yesterday was the biggest single day for any event we have run. There were phenomenal crowds around lunchtime, all enjoying themselves and great for all the stallholders.

"We’re able to showcase more local establishments than ever before, hopefully introducing some of them to potential new customers and reminding established customers why they love them."

In addition, a farmers’ market is on Angel Hill and dozens of stalls line the town centre offering food - along with everything those who love cooking could desire, from ingredients to kitchenware.

For families there is a range of children’s activities in and around the town centre including fairground rides and street entertainment across both days.

Giant games and a circus skills workshop are at the arc shopping centre.

The festival’s chosen charity this year is East Anglian Air Ambulance.