FOOD lovers will be flocking to Tavistock next summer for the town?s first ever food and drink festival which aims to showcase the best of the west.

?It?s going to be big,? says one of the brains behind the project Lisa Hair, president of the Tavistock Business Association. ?We would like it to become an annual event and it has the

potential to be

phenomenal.?

Organisers want to make Tavistock a mecca for food fans and believe it is a natural venue for the South West region.

The focus for the food and drink festival, which would encompass the wealth of quality restaurants and hotels in the area, is the historic pannier market which provides a dry venue whatever the weather.

From there, events and activities will spread out into the town and beyond and involve celebrity chefs, cookery demonstrations, special promotions and even farm walks.

Tavistock Business Association has received positive support from local food groups to its idea and Lisa said there were?really good vibes? about it.

?We are in the very early stages but I think everyone can see just how great a festival like this could be for Tavistock,? said Lisa, who has owned Duke?s Cafe by the pannier market for the last 15 years.

?In the West Country we have well-known chefs like Phil Vickery, Rick Stein and Peter Gorton to name just three so we hope to tap into some of that talent ? it would certainly draw people here.

?We will be featuring produce from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset and want to make Tavistock the centre of that universe.?

The festival is planned for July 31 and August 1 next year but it could be extended to a week-long event in years to come.

?There is so much we could do with the quality of food and businesses in this area and we are hoping lots of people become involved,? added Lisa.

?We are not trying to oust all the smaller food and drink festivals that go on but we are saying there is potential for doing something big here. Perhaps all the smaller ones could be incorporated to give it even more impact.?

A website has been launched by Tavistock Business Association where full details of the food and drink festival can be obtained.

Log on to www.

tavistockbusiness-

association.org.uk or contact festival chairman Jeffrey Stackhouse on 07770 223932.