ABERGAVENNY Food Festival has announced a raft of new events and speakers joining the line-up at this year’s event, taking place over the weekend of September 21-22.

The festival will welcome some of the most influential figures in British cooking, as Fergus Henderson and St. John co-founder Trevor Gulliver return to Abergavenny.

Fergus and Trevor, the team behind St. John, will be discussing their new book, The Book of St John (Ebury Press).

Fergus Henderson (left) and Trevor Gulliver, co-founders of St John.

In 2019 – happily coinciding with the Year of the Pig – St. John and its iconic brand are celebrating 25 years of unforgettable, pioneering food. Appearing “in-conversation” at the Borough Theatre, visitors can expect to be regaled with trademark verve, discovering the distinctive spirit of the original pioneers of nose-to-tail cooking.

Award-winning food writer and author of more than ten books, Diana Henry will also be appearing at the Borough Theatre, discussing the writing that inspires her and her life beyond food.

(L-R) Diana Henry, Jose Pizarro, and Jaega Wise.

Visitors can join writer Angela Clutton for a vinegar masterclass, Saturday Kitchen wine expert Olly Smith will impart all he knows about fizz cocktails, and chef Zoe Adjonyoh will be cooking over fire.

Catch returning food festival favourite José Pizarro, fresh from the launch of his new book Andalusia and appearing on the Market Hall stage; Jaega Wise joins Pete Brown to discover Beers and Cider of Wales, and fine spirits and cocktail aficionados Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley bring a Weekend Cocktails class and an exploration of the world of gin to the 2019 festival programme of events.

Weekend and day wristbands giving access to all Producer Markets and free chef demos are on sale now.

Tickets will be sold separately for all special events. Check the website for tickets and further information – www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com.

The full line-up for the festival will be announced and on sale in June.

Those with an NP7 postcode will receive 20 per cent off the cost of their wristband available online now using the code LOCAL.

To qualify for the local discount, proof of address must be shown when online purchases are exchanged for wristbands during the festival.

There will be a 10 per cent discount available for groups of 10 or more.