TICKETS for Malton Food Lovers Festival in May go on sale on Friday.

Headlining this year’s festival is musician and Reggae Reggae Sauce entrepreneur Levi Roots who, as well as demonstrations, will be playing alongside his 12-piece band at the first-ever festival party on the evening of Saturday, May 23.

Also attending this year’s food event is Prue Leith, writer and judge of BBC’s Great British Menu, Valentine Warner, chef, author and presenter of BBC’s What to Eat Now, Diana Henry, Sunday Telegraph’s award-winning writer and William Sitwell, writer, presenter and guest critic on BBC’s Masterchef.

Chefs including Andrew Pern, James MacKenzie, Stephanie Moon and Sara Danesin Medio will be offering masterclasses and demonstrations as well.

New for this year is a VIP Chef’s Theatre Ticket, which gives visitors access to all the live demonstrations in the Milton Rooms on Saturday or Sunday.

An early bird ticket is available for £5 until April 24, after which the VIP ticket can be bought for £10.

Tickets holders will also gain access to the VIP garden area and exclusive bar, and a chance to win an overnight stay at the Talbot Hotel and dinner at the Wentworth Restaurant.

For those wanting to get even closer to the festival experience, cookery lessons and tutored tasting sessions are available with many of the festival’s leading names. Prices start at £40 for cookery lessons, and places are limited to 12 for each lesson. Tutored tastings starts at £20 for each of the 25 places on offer.

For those wishing to take part in the festival, the last few remaining stalls are available.

To buy tickets, go to maltonyorkshire.co.uk

Tickets are also available from Malton Relish in Market Place.