A food festival is aiming to match one of Britain's biggest arts extravaganzas after attracting a big-name sponsor.

Yellow Pages has signed up as the headline sponsor for the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival in September.

Organisers say the coup could make the event rival the Brighton Festival for size.

For the first year the festival will feature a huge food and drink market at the Corn Exchange and along New Road.

More than 70 Sussex food producers have already signed up to take part in the market, which will include chefs' cook-offs, tastings, demonstrations, competitions and live music all day long.

Top restaurants will be offering special Sussex produce festival menus, while other events include a Regency Festival Banquet and a Battle of the Bars competition.

The festival's themes are buying local, nutrition and healthy eating.

Television food expert Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is giving tips to organisers on how the festival should run.

Festival director Paula Seager said: "Our goal is to build a food and drink festival that matches the best in Britain a real community event that not only helps people discover all the healthy and top quality food that is available locally but inspires them to enjoy food more through both cooking and eating out."

Roger Marlowe, president of the Brighton Hotels Association, the brains behind the festival, said: "The Food and Drink Festival aims to enhance Brighton and Hove's appeal as a city of festivals, attracting visitors from far and wide."

Friday, June 17, 2005