PREPARATIONS are now being finalised for a new Wallingford Food Festival.

The two-day celebration will be held at Bridge Villa Camping and Caravan Park in Crowmarsh Gifford on Saturday and Sunday.

The new festival is organised by the publisher of Round & About magazine and has been established after chef Paul Bellchambers, who ran a food festival on the site for five years, decided to take a break.

The new event is called the SO Food Festival.

Spokesman Chris Savage said: “There will be lots of cookery demonstrations on both days, with chefs including Paul Clerehugh, of the Crooked Billet in Stoke Row, Mariella Bliss, a chef from Oxford, and Angela Johnson, who is perhaps better known as Mrs Bun the Baker.

“Preparations for the weekend are now being finalised. We are almost there and everyone is really looking forward to it.

“The long-term weather forecast is looking good so far, so we are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for a really good attendance.

“It will cost £7 on the gate and if people are happy to give us an email address they can get in for £5.

“We are very keen to build custom for next year as well because we would like to make this an annual event.”

Mr Savage said cookery demonstrations would start at about 11.30am on both days and there would be music sessions and food provided at the Crooked Billet on Saturday evening.

Mr Bellchambers said earlier that he would consider bringing his own award-winning food festival back next year.

Visit: sofoodfestival.co.uk