THE countdown is on for a new star-studded food festival visiting Bournemouth later this month.

Travelling across the UK, Foodies Festival, is coming to Kings Park for the first time between September 17 and 19.

Festival-goers can expect to bump into celebrity chefs from MasterChef and Bake Off champions, dance to top music acts and delight in live theatre.

Award-winning chefs will be taking part in the event including Alex Webb, the champion of Masterchef: The Professionals, 2020 Masterchef winner Thomas Frake and Shelina Permalloo, Masterchef 2012 champion.

Alex Webb said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be touring around the country with Foodies Festivals this summer. I’ve been working on lots of delicious new recipes and I can’t wait to see you all in person and cook live on stage.”

There will be more than 40 bands and artists from Bournemouth and further afield playing across the weekend including a number of tribute acts such as Queen and Lady Gaga tributes Flash and Maybe Gaga.

At the three-day festival, visitors can enjoy the Chefs Theatre, Cake & Bake Theatre, Drinks Theatre with wine, champagne, beer and cocktail making masterclasses, shopping village with award-winning artisan producers and the street food avenue offering a large selection of dishes from Japanese Bao Buns to traditional Hawaiian BBQ’s.

More than 150 exhibitors will showcase their produce from the south coast and across the world.

To keep the children entertained, the Kids Cookery School hosted by Foodies chefs will take on a teddy bear’s picnic theme, encouraging kids to make simple food which they can take away and enjoy.

Festival director Sue Hitchen said: “I am delighted to bring Foodies Festival to Bournemouth, celebrating the delicious local produce and wonderful restaurants in Dorset, as well as recognising its great seafood.

“There has never been a better time to support local restaurants and food producers in the region and we are all ready to enjoy a fun day out with friends.”

For the third year running, the festival is supporting Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) with tickets raising money for UK-wide homelessness charity Crisis.

MAH founder Emma Rule said: “The last year has been incredibly difficult for charities, we are so pleased to be back at Foodies with our music stage and brilliant artists, raising much needed funds.”

Day tickets cost £19 and weekend tickets cost £29 - children aged 12 and under go free when accompanied by an adult.