THERE'S some new food for thought to whet your appetite at this Bournemouth Food & Drink Festival Festival. For the first time a number of restaurants, hotels and bars across the area have signed up to #FOOD15, which offers customers a range of great meals and taster menus for just £15 for the duration of the festival.

These deals can vary from £15 drink offers to different food options. Participating businesses have made their offers valid for every day during the festival, although some time restrictions might apply at some locations.

The #FOOD15 initiative is being funded by the Bournemouth Coastal Business Improvement District (BID) and BID Manager Stefan Krause said: “We are keen to support the Bournemouth Food and Drink Festival as it celebrates its fifth year. The #FOOD15 concept is making sure that the festival is expanding to all areas across the town and involving the coastal villages of Westbourne, Southbourne and Boscombe. It’s an excellent opportunity for the Chefs across town to showcase their talents and great restaurants and food outlets.”

Festival founder Patrick Marmion said: “Bournemouth has changed a great deal over the five years since we first launched our three-day trial and looking forward to year six and beyond, we want the festival hub to reflect more local food outlets.

"#FOOD15 aims to get more local restaurants involved in the festival by offering customers a good deal over the ten days for value of £15. The idea is for people to come to Bournemouth for the festival in the daytime and then go and eat at some of the local restaurants at an affordable rate."

Patrick added: "There are some great offers available so I would invite everybody to come and join us, eat and drink and enjoy Bournemouth.”

Caron Khan, Town Centre BID Manager added:"We are delighted to be supporting this year’s Bournemouth Food Festival which showcases the variety of restaurants and cafes we have in Bournemouth and the town centre, visitors to the festival will be able to taste food from all around the world without taking their passport with them."

Look out for the #FOOD15 logo in restaurant windows.