TWO exciting food events are to come to Basingstoke this month.

The first Eat Street food festival will take place from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, April 12 in London Street.

There will be free samples of food from established local restaurants, some of whom will be cooking outside in the street.

There will also be cooking workshops, live music, Easter egg making and cupcake decorating. The main venue will be a series of three gazebos in London Street outside the United Reformed Church and some additional workshops will take place in The Willis Museum.

Street theatre act The Candy Floss Queens will be giving away candy floss and having pink beard competitions throughout the day. Aside from the cooking activity, there will also be an Easter trail around shops in the Top of the Town.

Then on April 18-19, Masterchef judge John Torode is to cook up a storm at Eat Street in Festival Place. 

Porchester Square will be transformed for the event with food, live music and entertainment.

John will take part in a number of inspiring food demonstrations and a whole host of Festival Place’s restaurants will dish out delicious free bites for shoppers as they enjoy entertainment.

Listen to hugely popular wandering band Hot Dinners and wonder at the skills of juggling chef-entertainer Matt Barnard.

John will showcase his skills with live cookery demonstrations at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm on both Friday, April 18 and Saturday 19.

He will also meet fans and sign copies of his latest book at 12.25pm, 1.25pm and 2:25pm on both days at the top of Wesley Slope.

Steven Connolly, Festival Place Centre Director, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming foodies, families and friends to grab a free bite to eat and enjoy the great food and entertainment at Festival Place this Easter.”

Whilst Eat Street is taking place, Festival Place will be collecting donations for the Ark Cancer Centre Charity, a local charity raising funds to build a state of the art cancer centre aimed at improving the experience of thousands of people living with cancer.

Mr Connolly added: “There will be delicious free bites to eat from many of our restaurants including Ask, La Tasca, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Wagamama. It’s a great chance to try something new and we hope our customers will make a day of it!”

Find out the latest details online at festivalplace.co.uk.