A POPULAR food festival – run by a Warrington family – is returning to the area in the coming months.

The Great British Food Festival will be at Arley Hall on September 21 and 22.

This summer the event will take in 13 venues around the UK and it has been a mainstay at Arley for the past five years.

The line-up includes more than 100 ‘Best of British’ producers and street food vendors alongside celebrity chef demonstrations, talks, kids’ cookery lessons, live music, ‘Man vs Food’ challenges and a new barbecue stage.

Baker Howard Middleton will be one of the chefs judging the popular ‘Cake Off’, where amateur bakers compete head-to-head in two baking categories.

He said: “I love doing the demos and the cake off is great fun, it’s brilliant to see what the public can do.”

Former Bridgewater High School student Dan Maycock and his brother Nick have been hosting the days out – which now attract a total of around 100,000 visitors between them – since 2011.

Based in a converted garage in Appleton, they are assisted in running the festivals by Daniel’s wife Janine and their dad Terry, who used to work for Auto Trader in Warrington, does the accounts while the only non-family member is event manager Verity Sharples.

Dan, festival director, said: “We’re thrilled to be back at Arley, it’s always a lovely event, with a great crowd and we are really keen to push things on for 2019, hence we have more activities going on and a great line-up of chefs.

“The main chef demo area hosts great regional and TV chefs. All demos are free to enter so everyone can pick up top foodie tips.

“There are also regular artisan foodie talks, foraging walks and a new barbecue stage for you to get involved with. It’s a great opportunity to get a real taste of the best of Great British produce.”

n The Great British Food Festival is at Arley Hall on September 21 and 22. For more information or tickets visit greatbritishfoodfestival.com/arley-hall