The region's largest indoor food festival returns to Tatton Park on 22nd to 24th October for a jam packed weekend of all things food and drink.

Now in its third year, the 2010 festival is set to exceed all expectations serving up as many as 130 food and drink stalls to its hungry visitors. Selling everything from local cheeses, ice-cream and free-range meats to the more unusual such as locally reared ostrich meat and chocolate beer, food lovers will be treated to a taste sensation like no other.

Best known for its celebrity chefs from throughout the region, who queue up to cook in the demonstration kitchens, this year the festival presents the hugely popular, Cheshire chef, Simon Rimmer as its headline chef, with additional chefs, Andrew Nutter and Paul Askew adding to the high calibre line up from top North West restaurants.

Ambassador for the North West Food Lovers Festival, Marco Pierre White said:
"Since opening a restaurant in Chester, I have been astounded by the rich diversity and the sheer excellence of food produce available in the North West. I am very much looking forward to the arrival of the North West Food Lovers Festival in October, which will provide a culmination of the very best producers, farmers and food produce shops available in the North.

He added, "I have strong links with the North of England and fervently believe that the area is fortunate to have a high calibre of chefs along with fantastic local producers and seasonal ingredients. The festival's aim is to encourage people to shop locally and embrace the impressive choice of food on their doorstep. The Chef demonstrations will provide a lesson to onlookers, teaching them how to cook with the produce that is available to them. I am proud to say that amongst them will be the Head Chef of my Chester restaurant. I hope you will enjoy this special food and drink experience"

Festival Organiser, Stephen Wundke said: "This year our aim has been clear and that has been to build upon the success we have enjoyed in previous years and grow the festival year on year adding something different each year for our loyal visitors to see. This year we are adding children's cookery classes to the programme, which will be provided for by the Culinary Academy of Arts. The organisers of these classes run them with children in mind, and little ones learn about where food comes from and how to really taste food from an early age."

With over 12 hours of cookery demonstrations, the Academy of Culinary Arts cookery classes for children and plenty of delicious stalls selling food and drink to eat while at the festival, this is a fantastic day out for all the family with a tasty difference.

Mr Wundke adds: "What make the North West Food Lovers Festival a real foodie experience is that visitors can speak to the very people who grow and produce the food they are about to purchase. In supermarkets, we are aware of labels and the desire for producers to state whether something is outdoor reared or organic, but here at the festival, food lovers can question the producers on how they would recommend you store the produce, when exactly was it picked, what would you recommend to eat or drink with is etc.

"Speaking to the producers you get straight to the heart of what is best about food in our region and if you like your food and drink then there is no better place to come and stock up with the region's freshest, highest quality locally sourced produce you can get your hands on this Autumn."

Last year over 12,000 spectators visited the festival with many more expected this year. Friday will be a concessions day, where visitors can attend for as little as £5. With the whole show hosted inside a cosy marquee, visitors need not worry about the unpredictable October weather.

Tickets for the North West Food Lovers Festival are now on sale and can be purchased at www.nwfoodloversfestival.com and are priced at £6 for adults and children under 12 are FREE. Concessions are priced at £4 with a special of one price of £3 for all on Friday.

For more information about the festival visit http://www.nwfoodloversfestival.com