Foodies Festival, the UK’s largest touring food festival, is making its Kent debut at Mote Park this summer.

The festival will be stopping in Maidstone from Friday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26 June and boasts a weekend of gourmet food from around the world, cookery demonstrations from Master Chef and the Great British Bake Off stars, and live music.

Among the celebrity chefs making an appearance at the festival will be Dartford-based Thomas Frake, who won Master Chef in 2020. Other stars of the show who will be popping up across the weekend include Sandy Tang (2020), Dhruv Baker (2010) and Tony Rodd (2015).

There will also be a number of chefs from award-winning restaurants looking to bring their own distinctive flavour to the festival, including Alex Yates from Bowleys at The Plough in West Malling and Patrick Hill from Thackeray’s in Tunbridge Wells.

“It's brill to be a part of Foodies Festival this year,” says Patrick, who has been head chef at Thackeray’s since 2017. “I have lived in Kent all my life and spent a couple of my later teen years in Maidstone, which makes it even more fantastic to go back.

"I’m looking forward to showcasing some of our dishes from Thackeray’s and watching some of the county's great chefs cook.”

Visitors can join in with cookery masterclasses, sample food and drink from over 150 producers, tuck into street food from around the world, and pick up the latest food trends in the shopping village throughout the weekend.

Each evening of the festival will also be finished off some spectacular live music. Artists announced so far include chart-toppers Scouting For Girls, '00s pop ground Liberty X and 911, and Blue members Lee Ryan - born and raised in Medway - and Simon Webbe.

Speaking of the festival announcement, Scouting For Girls have said: “We’re so pleased to be getting back on the Foodies stage again, and we love the crowd in Kent! It's the best 'holiday at home' experience ever, with sunshine, great vibes and a weekend full of music!”

Foodies Festival is also working to support rising music talent with the Musicians Against Homelessness stage, which will feature over 40 artists across the weekend, from new acts from all over the country to exciting local bands.

“I’m very pleased to bring this amazing line-up of artists to Foodies in Maidstone,” says Emma Rule, founder of Musicians Against Homelessness, who put on music events to help raise money for homelessness services.

“I can’t praise them enough for their generous support in these difficult times.”

Early bird tickets, day tickets and weekend tickets are available now, starting from £19. Book online here or call 08449 951 111.