Wensleydale will be full of mouth-watering treats this weekend, says Ruth Addicott.

WITH more than 80 mouth-watering food and drink stands, top chefs offering free demonstrations and non-stop entertainment, the Dales Festival of Food and Drink at Leyburn, in Wensleydale, could be the place to head this May Bank Holiday.

Housed in a huge marquee, the food hall features a stunning selection of local produce from fresh seafood, meats and dairy to honey, herbs and spices. Ackworth Bread will be on hand with specialist breads, cakes and tarts, while Alison’s Country Pantry will have a full range of farmhouse cakes, awardwinning biscuits and celebration cakes.

As well as food, there will be 40 different ales from a selection of local breweries.

This year will also see a number of new exhibitors such as Epicure’s Larder, which offers a selection of fresh meat and dairy products, and Well Oiled, which will showcase a variety of extra virgin olive oil products, including fresh, home-made pesto, tapenade and infused dipping oils in beautiful clear glass bottles and jars.

Budding chefs should look out for the Are You Ready To Cook? competition in the theatre marquee, along with a kipper demonstration by the Port of Lancaster Smokehouse.

The festival also aims to give a boost to new businesses, be it Harrogate- based Artisan Cooks, which caters for corporate and private clients, or smaller outfits such as the family-run Green Machine, which specialises in vegetarian and vegan food using fresh, organic ingredients.

Among the other new additions is The Taste Adventure, an interactive event aimed at educating children to appreciate food and make use of their five senses. The event, organised by Slow Food North Yorkshire, will feature a number of designated zones, designed to stimulate the senses of smell, touch, taste, hearing and sight. Children will be given a passport to be stamped once they’ve completed each section.

For those looking for something completely different, there are talks and demonstrations on beekeeping by the Richmond and District Beekeepers’ Association, as well as jazz bands, brass bands and morris and sword dancing.

Last year’s festival saw more than 14,000 visitors over the course of the Bank Holiday, and looking at the latest programme, this year’s event could attract even more.

■ Dales Festival of Food and Drink, May 1,2 and 3. Tickets: Adult one-day £7, three-day £10.

dalesfestivaloffood.org

Free fashion advice clinics

SHOPPERS are being treated to expert style advice at York Designer Outlet this May Bank Holiday weekend.

A spring event will be held at the outlet on Saturday and Sunday with free style and colour workshops. Style consultants will be on hand offering free 15-minute fashion clinics to help shoppers with style and colour concerns. They will also be able to book a 30- minute express shop with the outlet’s personal shopper to help find this season’s key looks.

Also taking place at the north entrance, on the hour and half past the hour, one of the style experts will be presenting tenminute “how to” sessions on a host of topics including how to accessorise and how to find the perfect jeans.

As an extra treat, customers who have an express shop or style/colour consultation over the weekend will receive a £20 gift card.

Shoppers will also have the chance to sign up to Love Rewards at the event and be entered into a free prize draw to win a luxurious spa experience at Plush Spa, York.

Win a chance to see the region from the air

HOW would you like the chance to view our beautiful region from the air? Cleveland Flight Training is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a 30- minute Air Experience over the North Yorkshire Moors.

Cleveland Flight Training is a CAA Registered Training Facility located at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Offering private flight training, this location allows students to learn to fly in the professional, yet friendly environment of a modern flying school and international airport.

It operates a fleet of aircraft comprising 20-seater and four-seater Cessna and Piper aircraft and offers trial lessons, Private Pilot’s Licence courses and post-PPL advanced flying courses.

The flying school also hosts the Wings Bar and Restaurant, which is open to the public every day. The bar offers a great view of the airfield, so you can bring along friends and family to share your experience, making it an unforgettable day.

The prize is a full hands-on lesson with an experienced flying instructor, who will allow you to take control under supervision.

A trial flight is where it starts for all pilots. Most commercial pilots flying today started with a trial flight at their local flying school.

The voucher is valid for six months and is suitable for ages 14 upwards. All you have to do is go to the Cleveland Flight Training website to find the answer to the following question: What is the minimum number of hours you must fly to gain a Private Pilot’s Licence?

Send your answer, together with contact details, to Cleveland Flight Training Competition, Features, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF.

The closing date is May 7 and usual Newsquest competition rules apply.

■ For more information call 01325- 333916 or log on to clevelandflighttraining.co.uk