SHOPPERS soaked in the smells and tastes of a range of different cuisines at an annual food festival.

Eat Street returned to Festival Place last weekend with treats on offer from Festival Street Kitchen, Kokoro, Las Iguanas, Nando’s, Pizza Express, Starbucks, Wagamama, Caffe Nero and Apricot Café.

As well as the free samples there was giant chef stilt walkers, mocktail making, face painting and biscuit decorating.

On the Saturday, winner of the Great British Bake Off, Candice Brown, was on hand to give a series of live cooking demonstration.

Engaging with the audience by cracking jokes and telling tales of her time on Bake Off, Candice cooked up pina colada macarons and a peach melba meringue pie.

Speaking to the Gazette she said: “Doing these events is everything that I wanted to do. I get to cook and have a chat with people and those are two things I love doing.”

She added: “I have really enjoyed my time in Basingstoke, I have and a little look around, but so far all I’ve eaten is a slushy and a bag of sweets, but all the food smells amazing.

“The cooking community has really grown and eating is something that we all needed to do so it is very easy to bond over food.”

On Sunday, visitors the the shopping centre were given a taste of presenter of Eat Well for Less, Chris Bavin’s food.

For more events in Festival Place visit festivalplace.co.uk.