CHESTER Food and Drink Festival, now in its seventh year, is counting down to the 2008 event in March.

The festival has almost 100 confirmed exhibitors and counting, up 25% on those who attended the 2007 festival.

The three-day event brings more than £1m of business to the city and, when combined with the Nantwich and Tatton shows, the revenue figure is in excess of £3m.

A Knowat survey of hundreds of visitors to the Nantwich and Chester Food and Drink Festivals reveals 72% of visitors spend more than £10 per head with stallholders at the Chester festival.

Furthermore, 52% of business is repeat custom, with more than 90% pledging to return in 2008 to both events.

Chester Food and Drink Festival will take place from March 22-24, Easter Saturday to Easter Monday. The festival is moving to Chester Racecourse to accommodate the rising numbers of stallholders and visitors.

The racecourse will host villages for locally sourced produce from Cheshire and North Wales, together with national and international produce.

To bring the tastes and smells of the Festival to the city centre, a Food and Drink Fringe Festival will also take place around Chester in March.

Themed nights, family offers and accommodation promotions in city centre restaurants and hotels will aim to help to make Chester the focus of food and drink within the UK.

Stephen Wundke, chairman of the Chester Food and Drink Festival, said: “The Chester Food and Drink Festival brings in a significant amount of revenue to the city, with its partner events in Nantwich and Tatton significantly boosting the county coffers, the financial benefits are felt right across Cheshire.

“The repeat custom figures at the Chester Festival are phenomenal, showing that visitors know the event is a highlight of the spring calendar.

“Chester is proving a ‘must see’ destination for food and drink within the UK and with the variety of entertainment on offer it really does make sense to visit this established festival over the Easter weekend.

“This seventh year will boast more celebrity chefs and cookery demonstrations than ever before. There really will be something for everyone.”

For more information about other events happening over the Chester Food and Drink Festival, visit www.chesterfoodanddrink.com.