A celebration of all things food and drink is being staged in Norfolk this weekend.The first Deepdale Food and Drink Festival is the offspring of the well-known Deepdale Jazz and Real Ale Festival.

A celebration of all things food and drink is being staged in Norfolk this weekend.

The first Deepdale Food and Drink Festival is the offspring of the well-known Deepdale Jazz and Real Ale Festival.

As Norfolk becomes more and more famous for the high quality of its food, both raw ingredients and restaurant- served, the organisers felt it was the right time to celebrate that fame.

Whether you are looking for great local produce or want to try time some far-flung cuisine, there will be something for all tastes at the festival which is sponsored by the Eastern Daily Press.

From Norfolk cheeses to Russian blinis and from Norfolk real ales to sarsaparilla, the event will have something to suit all palates.

Entrance to the festival on Saturday and Sunday at Marsh Barn at Burnham Deepdale is free.

However, if you are travelling by car there will be a £1 charge each time you drive in and the cash will be given to two charities, St Mary's Church at Burnham Deepdale and the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

The organisers have teamed up with Produced in Norfolk and Tastes of East Anglia in staging the event.

This year visitors are invited in the People's Awards for Food and Drink and certificates will be awarded at the end of the festival. The winning stalls will be able to use the awards in their marketing material and on their website.

The venue, Marsh Barn, epitomises the North Norfolk coast. It is a beautiful 16th century barn with stunning views of the coast and surrounded by farm land.

Alister and Jason Borthwick are the father-and son team who have diversified their 1000-acre farm with a wide range of tourism and retail services.

They operate a backpackers hostel, campsite, tourist information centre, and a newly developed retail site, the facilities employing more than 30 people.

The festival will be open from 11am to 6pm on both days. Marsh Barn is about half-a-mile east of Burnham Deepdale on the A149 coast road.

More information regarding the Deepdale Food and Drink Festival is available by contacting 01485 210256.