PLANS have been revealed for the festival which is set to take over Stroud town centre and boost trade this spring. 

Stroud Festival of Food and Drink will run across several venues from May 20 to 22, bringing a welcome uplift to the local economy.

Residents can look forward to three days jam packed with cookery demos, food talks, live music and much more.

Jay Rayner, Oz Clarke and Jack Stein, son of renowned chef Rick Stein, Lloyd Grossman, Ken Hom and Rustie Lee are among the high-profile names taking part.

Plus Stroud’s finest home-grown food producers, chefs and restaurant owners will also be on the menu.

There will be family entertainment and culinary games, live music brunches and street markets.

The festival will be staged at venues in and around town, including at the Sub Rooms, Bank Gardens, the Cornhill, and Fawkes Place.

Events include an Oktoberfest style pop up called the Blossom Party, with live music and beer, which is being held at the Cornhill on May 21.

Many of the events will be free, and Stroud will be buzzing with food trucks and bars, offering everything from international cuisine and local artisan produce, to vegan street food.

Food critic Jay Rayner will be giving two different performances when he appears at the Sub Rooms on May 20.

The renowned restaurant critic, Masterchef judge and presenter of BBC Radio 4's The Kitchen Cabinet, will first talk about his new book, My Last Supper, in which he discusses what he would choose for his his last ever meal.

Then, later the same evening, at 9.15pm, he will play piano with his jazz band The Jay Rayner Quartet.

Tony Davey, chairman of Stroud & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce, said: "We're very much looking forward to the Stroud Festival of Food and Drink.

"This not only helps bring our local communities and tourist into town, but also offers opportunities for the businesses within the town to take an active part.

"With locations across the town, so helping to spread footfall, and covering three days, it's great to be able to celebrate food and drink across the town in what's set to be an amazing event with something for everyone."

See stroudfoodanddrink.com