FAMOUS foodies and business people celebrated all things cuisine at the launch of next year’s Christchurch Food and Wine Festival.

TV chefs Lesley Waters and Dean Edwards, both of whom appeared in the demonstration theatre this year, were among the gastronomical guests at The Captain’s Club Hotel.

The 'gintastic' evening was hosted by chairman of the festival Cllr Vicki Hallam, who talked about the success of the 2015 festival, which had expanded, for the first time, to the Quomps at Christchurch Quay.

Besides stalls selling a variety of local, regional and international food and drink, the weekend event saw live music around the town, cookery workshops for children and special guests including Levi Roots and the founders of Jimmy’s Iced Coffee.

Next year’s food festival, to be held on May 7 and 8, will follow a similar format, with the demonstration theatre and a number of stalls on the Quomps and the popular street market taking up the high street.

Vicki thanked all of last year’s sponsors at the launch before introducing Lesley and Dean, who will once again be demonstrating dishes and serving them to festival-goers in May.

Lesley, who has been patron of Christchurch Food Festival since its inception in 2000, said: “I go to a lot of food festivals around the country but this is my favourite as it has a very special atmosphere.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Dean next year,” she added.