Food lovers from across the region were able to enjoy classes, tutorials, and Suffolk traders at the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival this weekend.

This year's festival was a record-breaking event, seeing more than 10,000 people attend over Saturday and Sunday (September 23 and 24).

The celebration of the county's food and drink has been running since 2006 at Snape Maltings, near Aldeburgh in east Suffolk.

There were chefs giving live demonstrations on the festival's main stage, a seafood stage focused on east coast seafood, private masterclasses, and the tipi featuring family fun activities for the whole family, delivered by Grow Cook Eat.

Chefs on the weekend lineup included Adam Spicer, MasterChef: The Professionals finalist and head chef at The Greyhound in Pettistree, co-founder of Wahaca restaurants Thomasina Miers, and Dave Wall, chef at The Unruly Pig near Woodbridge, which was named the UK’s best gastropub in the Estrella Damm 2022 awards.

The festival is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, set up to champion Suffolk producers and businesses, and each year the festival fundraises to cover the costs of the event.

In order to exhibit at the festival, businesses must be based in East Anglia, preferably in Suffolk, and their products must be sourced in the region and available all year round.

Bella Scarr, executive producer of the festival, said: “It’s been an absolutely incredible weekend. More than 10,000 visitors attended and amongst them we had a huge number of families who came to enjoy all the food and children's activities.

"Our traders had their best weekend ever and the general atmosphere was one of joy, interest and fun.

"I couldn't be happier with how it went and feel very proud that both visitors and traders enjoyed it equally.

"We hope to make it even more enjoyable next year and plans are already underway. We'll be releasing next year's dates very soon for everyone's diaries.”