The Royal Bath & West Society is gearing up to host the first-ever Bath and West Food and Drink Festival, slated for the weekend of March 23-24.

This much-anticipated event will also see the 28th edition of the esteemed British Cheese Awards.

Kicking off the festival on Saturday morning will be TV personality and former Great British Bake Off contestant, Briony May Williams, gracing the Farmhouse Kitchen Stage. The festival boasts an impressive roster of appearances, including food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden and food writer Andy Clarke.

A standout feature of the festival is a cheese and cider pairing session, a celebration of the region's renowned produce, presented by Thatchers and Wyke Farms. Adding a touch of humour to the culinary expertise, the Liver Cottage Mobile Kitchen will see comedy chefs Hugh Fearn and Lee Whittingstall delivering a unique 'fusion food on the move' cookery demonstration.

The festival centres around the British Cheese Awards, a platform for showcasing hundreds of the UK's finest cheeses. Visitors will have the chance to learn from the judging process, which occurs on Friday, March 22, and may even sample some of the award-winning cheeses. The judging panel includes notables like comedian and cheese enthusiast Marcus Brigstocke, cheesemonger Ned Palmer, cheese consultant Emma Young, and cheesemaker Mary Quicke MBE, under the leadership of head judge Tim Rowcliffe.

Attendees can explore a variety of food and drink stands, featuring regional delights from Bath Soft Cheese, E18hteen Gin, Godminster, Purbeck Ice Cream, among others. The festival also caters to young guests with the Little Foodies zone, offering creative activities, while adults can relish a range of drinks at the Farmhouse Tavern.

Set at The Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet, Somerset, tickets for the festival are available at www.bathandwest.com/tickets.