GET ready to raise a glass to this year's FEAST Weymouth.

For the first time cocktail menus will be introduced as part of FEAST Weymouth, perfect for when people are looking for a pre-dinner drink.

The promotion, which begins in October, offers special menus throughout Weymouth and Portland to encourage visitors into venues throughout a traditionally quiet period.

The venues offer special menus that allow the visitor to get a real feel for a bar or restaurant they may not have been to before.

The eight week long food festival is supported by Weymouth BID and is now in its fourth year.

With a clear focus on great food and drink and independent local venues, FEAST Weymouth is dedicated to bringing a wonderful variety of fantastic value menus together. As well as welcoming cocktails, this is the first time venues from Portland have been welcomed into the eclectic mix.

Venues outside of the BID levy area are required to pay a £75 contribution. The aim of FEAST Weymouth is to encourage visitors into venues throughout a traditionally quiet period.

Participating eateries include: 1652 Coffee Bar – cocktail menu, Mallams, Actors Bar – cocktail menu, Sea Beats, Al Molo, Shalim’s Balti House, Ayya, Sophia's Kitchen, Bennetts Fish & Chips, The Bluefish Café & Restaurant Portland, Billy Winter’s, The Kings Arms - Portesham, Café Oasis, The Monkey’s Fist, Chilli’s Indian Restaurant, The New Inn Portland, Crustacean, The Nothe Tavern, Delicious, The Hotel Rex & Restaurant, Fish & Fritz, The Spice Ship, Good Life Cafe, The Stable, Les Enfants Terribles and the Upwey Wishing Well.

Fran Pecchia, owner of The Monkey’s Fist in Brewers Quay, said: “FEAST Weymouth is a great event that encourages people to dine in October and November.

"Which can be much quieter in Weymouth than the craziness of the summer! We are working on our menu now and are looking forward to sharing it with everyone.”

A pop up kitchen event will be held in Brewers Quay on Sunday October 1. There will be chef demonstrations from Nigel Bloxham, owner of the Crab House Café and Billy Winter’s, Taher Jibet – The Secret Chef, Adam Foster, owner of Sea Beats, Luciano Da Silva, owner of the Bluefish Café and many more! There will also be cocktail demonstrations from Ayya and other cocktail bars.

Taher Jibet, the Secret Chef, said: “I am very excited to be demoing at this year’s Pop Up Kitchen. I have heard the plans and it is very different to last year – with a new venue and much bigger atmosphere – a great way to kick off FEAST Weymouth. FEAST Weymouth is so important for the local bars and restaurants as October and November can be very quiet. I can’t wait to plan my weekly visits to the wonderful venues around Weymouth and Portland”.

Diners are encouraged to follow FEAST Weymouth on social media and look out for fantastic prizes on offer throughout the eight weeks.

The FEAST Weymouth promotion will work with each participating venue providing a set-menu or offer within the price ranges of £5, £10, £15, £20 or £25 for customers to dine at their establishment throughout the month of October and until November 30. Each venue will have their own terms and conditions so diners are encouraged to call ahead and book. Menus for each participating venue will be displayed across the We Are Weymouth UK website.