THE 2012 Shobdon Food and Flower Festival promises a line up of quality food and drink, arts and crafts, demonstrations, displays, live music and evening concerts and a celebration of the re-opening of Shobdon’s unique church after lengthy renovations.

The festival will showcase local food and food producers, with everything from seasonal summer fruits to organic meats, ciders and speciality breads, taking in ice-creams, chocolates, cheese, cakes and crepes.

There’ll be demonstrations from local Thai and Indian chefs, as well as a traditional wood-fired earth oven cooking traditional pizzas, and younger visitors can enjoy a hands-on cookery lesson at the Easy Peasy Cookery Theatre.

Among the exhibitors are Jo Hilditch’s British Cassis, long term supporters of Shobdon Food festival, and promising the prospect of new products this summer. Joining them on the menu are bakers R C Swift Ltd, who will showcase traditional and not-so-traditional breads – including cider, curry and chilli bread.

“We love Shobdon, it’s one of the friendliest shows we attend,” says Jayne Swift.

“We're known for our traditional values and ethics which is why Shobdon suits us to a tee.”

Among those demonstrating their culinary expertise will be Rayessa Asghar-Sandys of Rayeesa’s Indian Cookery School and the chefs from the Stagg Inn at Titley, the first pub in the UK to be awarded a Michelin star.

Live music throughout the weekend culminates in two evening concerts, and to close the festival there will be a Festival Evensong service with Hereford Cathedral Choir on Sunday at 5.30pm.

Shobdon Food Festival runs from June 22 to 24. For details, visit shobdonfestival.co.uk.