FOODIES flocked to Oxford’s Castle Quarter to sample the best of British street food over the bank holiday weekend.

Tucked away under the looming Castle Mound, more than a dozen stalls served up gastronomic delights at the opening heat of the British Street Food Festival.

Oxford Mail:

Nick Attfield at the Fish Hut

Stalls voted the best from Oxford’s heat will join those from heats held in Cardiff, Leeds and Cornwall over the summer for the final in London on September 25-27.

Among the 15 vans and huts selling their finest dishes was Crumble Shack, ran by Daniel Allen.

The 34-year-old, of Watlington, believes street food is becoming more popular due to its image moving away from greasy fast-food outlets.

He said: “There’s a massive array of products that people can try.

“People think of street food and they think of burger vans, but that’s really changing now and there’s a massive street food culture in the United States and Philippines.”

Mr Allen also tipped Oxford to follow in the footsteps of London, Manchester and Bristol, which already have thriving street food scenes.

He said: “People are seeing it going on in London and the same in other cities, there’s no reason why Oxford can’t do it as well.”

The festival was open from Friday until yesterday and included live music and a food-themed crazy golf course.

Customer Andrew Waller was full of praise for DogTown London, which served its own brand of high-quality hot dogs. The 46-year-old company director, of Headington, had opted for a hot dog with chilli and cheese.

He said: “It’s good to have nice street food stalls rather than horrible vans.”

Nick Attfield, of the Fish Hut, sold fish and chips using cod he said was ethically fished in the North Sea off Lowesoft.

He said: “It’s about doing one thing and doing one thing well.”

Richard Johnson, who founded the British Street Food awards in 2009, said: “It seemed there was a gap in the market for affordable food that delivered in terms of spectacle and quality.”