This is the second Northampton Winter Food Festival to be held in this blooming Midlands town, famed for its connection with the global shoe industry.

It’s unique in that there will be over 80 food, drink and foodie gift stalls with a street food market around the edge of Northamptonshire’s legendary cricket team’s home ground.

As well as a full line-up of chef demonstrations, including from Masterchef finalist Giovanna Ryan, there will be a series of totally free foodie talks, free wine and gin tasting sessions and a cookery school for kids and adults. There will also be a chance to see Northampton’s answer to Nigella Carmella Sereno Hayes demonstrating her pasta skills.

The foodie talks were pioneered by local food hero and festival founder Crispin Slee, who wanted to bring in local producers to bring their products alive. These talks will include Phil Saxby, co-founder of Saxby’s Cider, farmer and apple expert.

This year two local producers will be exclusively unveiling new products, Northampton cheese producer Cobbler’s Nibble launches its Dutch-inspired hard cheese Shoe Town and Friar’s Farm is launching its Decadence range of boozy preserves.