MALTON Food Lovers Festival returns next month for its 11th year.

Yorkshire’s own talent will headline the event again on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, with a host of chefs and representatives.

The festival, which last year attracted crowds of more than 30,000, will also feature a selection of the north’s best food and drink producers, as well as a range of award-winning street food stalls.

Tommy Banks, winner of The Great British Menu 2016 and 2017, has confirmed his reappearance at this year’s festival. He is owner of The Black Swan in Oldstead, which was awarded The Best Restaurant in 2019 by the Food and Travel Magazine, along with receiving the Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the world title by TripAdvisor in 2017.

It will be a first-time visit for chef, food writer and cookery teacher, Sabrina Ghayour, known for her Persian and Middle-Eastern cooking.

Ghayour, who has previously been named by the Evening Standard as one of the 1,000 most influential people, will be using recipes from her vegetarian recipe book, Bazaar, and will be hosting a cookery demonstration, along with a book signing session.

Many local success stories will also be taking part, including Brass Castle Brewery, Sloemotion Gin, Bluebird Bakery and patisserie Florian Poirot.

There will also be a new indoor market, Taverner’s Yard featuring the “Meet The Producer” stage, Pop-Up Picnic area, a live music stage, street food and children’s entertainment.

Tom Naylor-Leyland, festival director said: “The Malton Food Lovers Festival is the highlight of Malton’s busy events calendar.

“We are delighted to be celebrating our 11th year of the festival, which showcases the crème de la crème of food and drink from our makers, bakers and growers across the region.”

For more information, visit visitmalton.com