AN unmissable festival for all food lovers is returning to the Cotswolds for the second year running.

Following the success of the first event last year, which took place in two venues in Chipping Campden, BITE is back and is taking place across 26 venues in three counties.

There is something for everyone at this year’s event which runs from Saturday, February 1 to Sunday, February 9 and stretches as far as Cheltenham, up to South Warwickshire and down to Burford.

Foodies can expect breakfasts, brunches, lunches, teas and dinners along with popup restaurants, cocktails, fine wines, masterclasses, talks and tastings.

The festival is also the first public venue for the gold medal-winning Combined Services Arts Team, which brings together the best chefs from the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force.

Julian Ebbutt, festival director, said the event had got bigger since its inaugural year.

“The programme has grown hugely since year one, we’ve included a huge variety to it in terms of different venues, different prices and different ways people can access really fun as well as some serious food events,” he said.

“We felt the area had so much to offer. The idea is to highlight exactly what people get in the Cotswolds.”

Highlights include the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, in Burford and an Artisan Food Market, in Chipping Campden.

There will also be a Relish Dinner with four leading lo- CELEB: Anthony Worral Thompson will be making an appearance at the BITE food festival.

Urban Rajah and Indunil Sanchi, of Great Indian Food Feasts, are looking forward to BITE.

BITE SIZED: A variety of tempting treats will be on offer at artisan food markets.

cal chefs, an evening with chef Anthony Worral Thompson, at the Wood Norton, in Evesham and the Great Indian Food Feast with Indunil Sanchi and The Urban Rajah.

Other events include a Cotswold Beer Safari including lunch at the Ebrington Arms, literary lunch with Julian Baggini and a cookery competition at Chipping Campden School.The Daylesford cookery school is also teaming up with BITE to offer a range of masterclasses suitable for chefs of all abilities.

The classes will teach a range of techniques and skills helping people make the most of seasonal ingredients, all from Daylesford farm.

Courses run throughout the festival and include classes on Classic British Cooking, Street Food and Simple Suppers.

Last year’s inaugural festival saw Chipping Campden transformed into a foodie haven as some of the country’s top chefs descended upon the town.

The opening night with Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace was a sell-out success, as he shared some secrets from behind the scenes at Masterchef.

A special junior Masterchef at Chipping Campden School saw more than 20 students battle it out to impress judges Gregg Wallace, festival organiser Julian Ebbutt and British food expert, writer and broadcaster Henrietta Green, with their dishes made from ingredients sourced within 15 miles of the school.

Alicia Chown was crowned winner of the competition and saw her dish featured on the menu of the Cotswold House Hotel.

Other popular events included a live demonstration with the world renowned chocolatier Damian Allsop and dinner with Great British Menu judge and novelist Prue Leith.

Mrs Green enthused about the event: “I thoroughly enjoyed myself and learnt a lot.

It was great to meet so many passionate foodies who all seemed to be having a great time, to be in such a gorgeous part of the country and to meet so many great local producers.”

For a full programme of this year’s events and to book visit thebite.co.uk