A NEW food and drink festival is coming to Malmesbury.

eat:Malmesbury takes place on Saturday, October 19, with more than 60 stalls in the town showcasing regional producers and local traders.

Around 60 food and drink producers are taking part, as well as a number of Malmesbury community groups.

The festival is organised by not-for-profit West Country social enterprise eat:Festivals.

It runs from 10am to 4pm, with the upper High Street closed to traffic.

There will be stalls in the High Street, Market Cross and Birdcage Walk, as well as in front of Malmesbury Abbey and in the Old School Room in Malmesbury Town Hall.

In addition, there will be free entertainment around the festival.

The town’s retailers will also remain open as usual, including local food and drink outlets, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

The theme of the festival is Taste Cook Grow, encouraging visitors to try something new, cook and extend their palate.

The event is the first eat:Festival for Malmesbury and Wiltshire as a whole.

Locations where other eat:Festivals have been held include Chipping Sodbury and Portishead.

The Malmesbury festival comes as a result of the organisers approaching Malmesbury Town Council last year.

Malmesbury mayor Phil Exton said: “The team at eat:Festivals felt Malmesbury would be a good first venue for them in Wiltshire after many successful events across the West Country.

“We are looking forward to welcoming them and are pleased that local providers will be included, as well as many other West Country food and drink producers.

“It’s a great opportunity for local residents and visitors to taste different produce and discover what Malmesbury has available with great hotels, pubs, restaurants, cafes and takeaways, as well as enjoy all the festival has to offer.”

Bev Milner Simonds, director and founder of eat:Festivals, said: “It has been a real pleasure getting to know Malmesbury better over the past few months.

“There are so many great producers in Wiltshire, it is great to be able to showcase many at this new festival.

“On the day, visitors can expect to find farmers’ market favourites like bread, ales and cheese, alongside charcuterie, cakes and street food.”

For more information, visit eatfestivals.org