ONE of the UK’s longest running hospitality and food service events is heading to Bournemouth.

The Hotel, Catering & Retail Show, which has been running for more than 60 years, takes place on March 14-15 at the BIC, providing an opportunity to see demonstrations and products face to face.

As well as catering for the business needs of hospitality buyers, the show will welcome retail buyers looking for speciality food and drink at their outlets, with producers from Taste of the West, Dorset Food & Drink, and Hampshire Fare all due to attend.

Visitors discover how the market is evolving and make fresh contacts, while networking with colleagues, suppliers and customers and enjoy hundreds of food and drink product tastings.

The well-established hospitality event attracts a mix of retail and hospitality suppliers who market their products and services in Dorset, Hampshire and the surrounding areas, including restaurateurs, chefs, catering professionals, deli and farm shop owners and retail buyers large and small.

Show features include Liquid, which offers the on-trade and off-trade the opportunity to discover new products, techniques, services and trends, as well as the Mixology Bar, organised in partnership with the UK Bartenders Guild in collaboration with Bottled Consulting Ltd.

Here, visitors can watch the UKBTG Market Challenge for Barman Apprentices and Bartending Legends, watch mixologists at work and see demonstrations by Brockenhurst and Bournemouth Hospitality College.

Love Food Roadshow is also bringing a Cookery Demonstration Theatre to the event, where Bournemouth & Poole College students will be supporting the chefs as well as conducting their own daily demonstrations for visitors.

With a range of hospitality talks and masterclasses, the show is billed as the leading hospitality and food service event for the south.

For information, to book a stand or to register to attend, call 01934 733433, visit hotelcateringretailshow.co.uk or follow @hotelcatershow.