CELEBRITY chef demonstrations, more than 100 of the best British food producers, street food vendors, talks, kids cookery lessons and live music a Cake Off competition and Men v Food challenges will be on the menu at a one of the country’s largest food festivals during the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

The Great British Food Festival, which is staged at nine different venues across England on different dates is coming to Weston Park, Shropshire, for the first time this year. It has previously been held at Ragley Hall near Alcester.

One of the big attractions is the Men V Food challenges which take centre stage at 12 noon and 3.30pm with three different tests each day – Men V Meat, Men V Heat and Pairs V Treat. The entry fee is £5 and goes to a local charity.

Tim Rushton, host of the Men V Food Challenges, said: “They are really popular and are a good watch with the crowd cheering the contestants on.”

The meat challenge is a tough test and Tim added: “Basically there are six minutes to each as much sausage as you can. Once they have eaten all they can they have to down a pint of cider within the time limit, otherwise their entry doesn’t count.

“The winner is the person who has eaten the most sausage, drank the pint all within the time. We had one man in Yorkshire eat 79 inches of sausage.”

Three Great British Bake Off contestants Ali Imdad, Howard Middleton and Luis Troyano will be giving demonstrations throughout the weekend together with a number of other accomplished chefs.

There is entertainment for all the family throughout the bank weekend, including plenty for children to see and do such as kid’s cookery lessons, free circus skills, free kids crafts as well as some children’s rides.

One of the Great British Food Festival organisers Daniel Maycock said: “Weston Park is a beautiful historic house with lovely gardens, our festival entry will include access to the parks and gardens so it's a great value day out. Parking will be a lot closer to the event site so access will be easier for disabled, the elderly and families.”

The dates for this year’s event at Weston Park are Saturday May 27, Sunday May 28 and Monday May 29. For more information about this event and the other eight venues visit www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com.

Daniel added: “We have taken over the dates of Weston Park's own food and craft fair and it's also means we can do three days so hopefully meaning more people will be able to come along.”