FOODIES from across the region will be flocking to Truro this weekend for the Great Cornish Food Festival - the largest event anywhere dedicated to Cornish food and drink.

The event is a melting pot of the hard-working artisan producers and trail-blazing chefs and this year’s programme is more fast-paced than ever.

Theatre headliners include newcomer Jack Botha, one of River Cottage’s rising stars and new head chef of the recently revamped Old Ale House in Truro, plus Fifteen Cornwall’s Andy Appleton and celebrated seafood chef Nathan Outlaw (pictured).

Head chef at the Mariner’s Rock, Paul Ripley, will be cooking up a storm on Friday afternoon at 4.30pm, with food-matched tasters being provided by Sharp’s Brewery beer sommelier Ed Hughes. Add to the mix some must-see demonstrations across the three days from the likes of Dale McIntosh of Merchant’s Manor in Falmouth, Mullion Cove Hotel’s Fiona Were, Gwel an Mor’s Joe Lado Devesa, and Adam Clark of Bedruthan Steps Hotel, and you’ve got yourself a fantastic weekend lineup.

In the Croust Bar, Sharp’s Brewery will be holding a dedicated Happy Hour on Friday between 4pm and 5pm, during which festival-goers can sample the huge range of beers and ales.

Head to The Deck – the festival’s dedicated masterclass stage, where food experts from across the industry will be talking you through everything from cheese-tasting to pastry-making, in a packed timetable of tasty tutorials.

The Great Cornish Food Festival’s grand finale is one to stick around for this year. A Butchery Masterclass by Brian Etherington Meat Co’s Frank Linn will be accompanied on stage by Thom Hunt (of 7th Rise and TV’s Three Hungry Boys), who’ll be cooking up a storm with some of the cuts that Frank produces.

The Great Cornish Food Festival runs from Friday to Sunday on Lemon Quay in Truro. Entry is free.

For a downloadable timetable of events, see www .greatcornishfood.co.uk/festival