Lancashire chefs, restaurateurs and local producers are being invited to showcase their produce and skills during the Preston Guild 2012's Square Food Festival in a bid to raise the profile of the county's thriving local food industry.

Lancashire chefs, restaurateurs and local producers are being invited to showcase their produce and skills during the Preston Guild 2012’s Square Food Festival in a bid to raise the profile of the county’s thriving local food industry.

The festival, which will take place on 1 and 2 September on Preston’s iconic Winckley Square and marks the opening to Vintage Guild Weekend, will present some of the region’s finest food and drink to help boost local businesses and unite local SMEs during the Guild celebrations.

More than 30 of Lancashire’s finest food and drink producers will be carefully selected by a group of food experts and invited to exhibit in what’s being described by organisers as much more than just a market.

The two-day festival will offer a ‘Make, Taste and Talk’ programme of tutored-tastings and workshops, which will feature local beers, cheeses, cured meats, breads, honey, ice cream and chocolate. Live cooking demonstrations and making masterclasses will be themed around many of the items on sale at the food market, so Preston’s top chefs can show off their culinary skills to visitors.

Businesses will also have the opportunity to gain experience first hand of the new ‘Street Food’ craze, a potentially new source of business for Preston restaurateurs which has become increasingly popular across the UK. The festival will provide the opportunity for top Lancashire chefs to pitch around Winckley Square and offer visitors a sample of their own exciting street food dishes- to go!

Event organiser Simon Preston is currently working with other agencies across Lancashire including Taste Lancashire, the quality award scheme for eating establishments developed by Marketing Lancashire and Quality in Tourism, to carefully select the cream of the crop of local producers.

He said: “The festival is a great opportunity for traders in Preston to work together and to connect with other food producers, boosting business in a sector in which Lancashire as a whole really excels.

“The street food stalls in particular will provide an opportunity for restaurateurs to experiment with something new. Street food can create an important extra stream of income to food businesses and opens up the possibility for businesses to travel further afield to festivals and outdoor events, giving the rest of the UK a real taste of the north.”

He added: “Lancashire is home to some incredibly skilled and talented people and we want to use this opportunity to boost their business potential and show off their produce.

“Many Lancastrians in the food trade have parents and grandparents who have been involved in previous Guilds. It's a matter of great pride for them to be part of Preston Guild 2012 as well as an opportunity to promote their businesses.”

Stella Hall, festival director at Preston Guild 2012 said: “This is a fantastic part of the Guild celebrations which will really highlight some of the delicious food and drink that is produced locally. Foodies of all ages will be able to get involved and experience a real taste of Lancashire.”

The Square Food Festival is free to attend and will be a fitting finale to the Love Food Love Preston month and marks the opening to Vintage Guild Weekend. For more information about the event and the times of the demonstrations taking place, visit www.prestonguild2012.com.