FOOD FANS are in for a treat later this month when a festival dubbed the ‘gastronomic Glastonbury’ returns to Oxford.

Foodies Festival, the UK’s biggest culinary carnival, descends on South Park for three days over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Visitors will be treated to a feast of entertainment, with Oxford University Medical PhD student and MasterChef 2018 runner-up Nawamin Pinpathomrat among the famous names cooking live.

Oxford Mail:

Other Oxfordshire chefs will also share their signature dishes, including Paul Bell, of the Cherwell Boathouse, The Oxford Kitchen’s Paul Wellburn, and Chris Bentham, of The Black Boy gastropub in Headington.

The festival features more than 30 food stalls and more than 100 artisan producers, with a range of cuisines to buy or sample.

This year live music graces the event for the first time, with The Hoosiers and power pop group Dodgy headlining on Saturday August 25.

Much-loved band Toploader play on the Sunday and festival organiser Sue Hitchen hopes revellers will be dancing in the moonlight at the musical and culinary offerings.

Oxford Mail:

She said: “People often dub Foodies Festival as a ‘gastronomic Glastonbury’ and this year it truly is.

“We have combined our two favourite things, music and food, to create a wonderful weekend for the whole family to enjoy.

“We like to give our visitors the best in terms of celebrity chefs and the latest cooking trends.”

The live music stage is supported by Musicians Against Homelessness, with tickets raising money for UK-wide homelessness charity Crisis.

Mrs Hitchen said: “The ethos behind the festival now extends to music too.

“There’s a great line-up of famous names and local bands performing. Importantly they also raise the plight of the homeless and we are pleased to offer a platform for Musicians Against Homelessness to do this.

“There’s already been massive interest from food and music lovers. We can’t wait to come to Oxford.”

The family-friendly festival offers something for everyone, from the Kids Cookery Theatre to the Tequila Shack.

Oxford Mail:

This year, the event will stay open to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday and to 6pm on Bank Holiday Monday and Mrs Hitchen hopes the event appeals to as many people as possible.

Meanwhile, a ferris wheel and carousel will add to the festival atmosphere.

She said: “Oxford is particularly popular with young families and local students.

"They bring a great energy and vibe to the weekend."