Nottingham's all set for its 2010 food and drink festival

Preparations for the second annual Nottingham Food & Drink Festival are underway with the organisers hoping to attract 25,000 visitors over four days from September 23-26. We Are Nottingham (WAN), the city's Business Improvement District (BID) representing all the city centre's licensed premises, put on the successful event last year attracting more than 18,000 visitors and this year is aiming to entice a third more people to the festival. The event is again being organised and funded by local bar and restaurant owners and different venues across the city are preparing a variety of foodie activities, strengthened by a line up of celebrity chefs. WAN chief executive Sylvia Manser said: "We are a young festival, but I believe that as the event is entirely organised by the local restaurants and bars, then we stay close to our core purpose of putting on entertainment which everyone will enjoy – and showcasing some great food and drink. We are hoping to attract thousands more visitors this year, as we become an established event on the nation's culinary calendar." The festival will have live cook-offs, chef demos, masterclasses and tasting area, as well as a special food and drink market featuring local suppliers in Nottingham's central hub, Old Market Square. Venues around the city will also be playing host to a number of events around the city centre. Celebrated Italian chef Gino D'Acampo will be opening the Celebrity Chef's Theatre on the Thursday, while TV personality and Ready Steady Cook presenter Ainsley Harriott will be closing the festival on Sunday. Caribbean soul food chef Momma Cherri and celebrity chef and Great British Menu representative Atul Kochhar will also star at the festival. Other highlights include a Ready Steady Cook style challenge, where members of the armed forces will be partnered with chefs from venues in the city to take part in a series of cook offs in aid of the Help for Heroes charity. • For further information visit www.wearenottingham.co.uk/foodanddrink