CHESTER'S biggest gastronomic event starts at the end of next week.

The fourth annual Food and Drink Festival will be held from Saturday, March 26, until Sunday, April 3.

Organisers have outlined an increased programme of events, including more celebrity visits to coincide with school Easter holidays.

The festival will centre around a massive marquee to be set up in the car park of Chester's Castle Square.

This will act as a showcase for the region's impressive variety of top quality produce, from cheeses, meat products, fruit, vegetables, ice cream, shrimps, salmon and cider to home made chocolates and preserves.

Amongst events to take place in this marquee will be a large Producers' Market, with 60 stands from Easter Monday through to Wednesday. The marquee will also hold celebrity chef demonstrations throughout the festival, the cocktail competition and the gala awards dinner on Thursday, March 31.

Super cooks James Martin, Simon Rimmer and Andrew Nutter are confirmed as celebrity chefs who will showcase their skills in the Taste Marquee kitchen.

This year will see a shift in focus to regional and local retailers and producers and will also encourage healthy eating, with a competition involving Cheshire's schools.

A world record attempt is being made for the largest toast mosaic, supported by Warburtons. This and the cheese rolling competition will launch the festival.

The festival is run by a select committee of representatives from all food and drink sectors chaired by Stephen Wundke. He said: 'Our region has an amazing wealth of fine foods and produce, as well as many fantastic eating and drinking venues.

'The aim of this festival is to encourage all the different sectors to work together to produce an event befitting this historic and exciting city, its residents and the tourists to our region.'

'The marquee will provide a highly visible focus for the festival.'

'It will be a venue for a host of different events such as tastings, competitions, cookery demonstrations and a glittering cocktail event involving bars, restaurants and pubs across the city.'

'The festival will include special offers at eating and drinking venues around Chester and Cheshire that proved to be so popular in 2004, including key events like the cheese rolling competition and the Ale Assize and Medieval Banquet on Saturday, April 2.

'It is a very special and unique reason for visitors to come to Chester during Easter Week.'

Chris Brown, chief executive of the Cheshire and Warrington Tourism Board, said: 'The board is delighted to be working in partnership with Chester City Council in supporting the festival.

'This unique event programme highlights some of the best Chester and Cheshire has to offer; from quality food and drink to superb restaurants, cafes and bars which rival those found in many of the great European cities.'

For more information on the festival Log on to www.chesterfoodanddrink.com Festival brochures are available across the city