Raise a glass to return of food and drink festival

The Hebden Bridge Food and Drink Festival runs from 10am to 8pm on Saturday and from 9.30am to 4pm on Sunday.

As part of the event, there will be 33 stalls on Bridge Gate, Lees Yard and St George’s Square selling various food and drink products - all from within a 10-mile radius of Hebden Bridge.

One of the event organisers, Peter Brennan, Market Inspector at Todmorden Market, said: “The event is mainly about getting local traders involved and it’s also about getting more people into Hebden Bridge to help the businesses that are already in the town.

“At the last two festivals we have had it was very busy, so we’re hoping for the same.”

Among the food expected to be at the festival is: pizza, Mediterranean-themed dishes, pies, cakes, paella, sea food, ostrich meat, crocodile and alligator burgers, a hog roast, cheese, preserves and more.

To wash the food down, there will be smoothies and alcoholic drinks provided by local breweries.

Hebden Royd town councillor Christine Davenport, who is also helping to organise the event, said: “Everything is supplied by businesses within a 10-mile radius of Hebden Bridge. It will be the best food and drink that the upper Calder Valley and surrounding areas has to offer. It would be nice to have this in the Hebden Bridge calendar as a regular event, even if it’s only once a year. But for that to happen people will need to come down and support the festival.”

She would like to do another festival on the weekend of July 4 and 5 when the 2014 Tour De France passes through the Calder Valley. However she said it is still early days and it might depend on how well supported this weekend’s festival is.

l Coun Davenport will be hosting a donations drop-off point for the Todmorden Food Drop-in at the festival. It will be located on Lees Yard from 11am to 3pm on Saturday. All donations are welcome and Coun Davenport has asked for food, cleaning products, personal hygiene products or pet food.