ORGANISERS of the Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival have announced that plans are “well underway” for this year’s event following two successive cancellations.

The popular festival was called off in 2020 and 2021 due to “uncertainties” around restrictions and social distancing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, this year’s instalment is expected to go off without a hitch over the weekend of June 11 and 12.

In an announcement on their social media pages, organisers said: “After two years where we unfortunately had to cancel the event, plans are now well underway for the return of our highly popular festival.

“All businesses have suffered considerable during the pandemic, so we are very grateful for all those local companies who are still able to provide sponsorship to help us produce the festival.

“Please make sure the weekend of the June 11 and 12, 2022 is in your diaries. It's going to be a spectacular event.”

To further boost expectations, the Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival committee have revealed that renowned TV chefs Jean-Christophe Novelli and Lesley Waters will return to the event.

In another announcement on their Facebook page, Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival said: “Jean-Christophe has recently been seen several times on TV and will soon be back on our screens in a new ITV reality series.

“Lesley has also appeared on several TV cookery programs and has a very successful cookery school which she runs nearby in West Dorset.

“To have two such fantastic chefs at our festival is a great boost to our event and is a must visit for anyone who loves their food, and wants to learn how to produce delicious meals.”

Further details about the festival, including other local and celebrity chefs, are set to be announced over the next months.