A SERIES of workshops will be the perfect accompaniment to a food festival line-up next month.

From bingo with a twist to discovering the best snacks to pair with a pint, Bishop Auckland Food Festival will host interactive sessions on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14.

The Durham County Council event, supported by media partner The Northern Echo, will also feature sessions with celebrities including BBC MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace and more than 150 traders heading to the historic market town.

Some of the produce on sale will be incorporated into Beer and Bites, an interactive session combining brewers’ tales with beer tasting and locally produced nibbles. The sessions take place at 1.30pm on the Saturday and Sunday and tickets cost £12 including beer tastings and nibbles.

Gin School returns this year, transforming the game of bingo into Gingo. Games take place at 12pm and 3pm on both days and £12 tickets include gin and tonic combinations, a game of bingo and the chance to win prizes.

Festival producer Bev Channell said: “We are so excited to bring Gingo and Beer and Bites to Bishop Auckland. Our workshops provide an opportunity for people with a shared passion for food and drink to get together and try new things. We will be announcing more classes and activities over the next few weeks, so keep checking our website and social media feeds for the latest festival news.”

Other celebrities at the event next month will include actress and restaurateur Jennie McAlpine, BBC MasterChef’s reigning champion Kenny Tutt, Great British Bake Off semi-finalist Briony May Williams and television presenters Angellica Bell and Stefan Gates. There will also be live music and children’s entertainment.

Last year, 27,000 people attended the festival, resulting in record sales for traders and boosting the local economy by more than £530,000.

Bishop Auckland Food Festival is part of #Durham19, a campaign led by Visit County Durham, the council and partners to celebrate cultural events across the county this year.

  • To book tickets to workshops and demonstrations visit www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk For the latest festival news visit Bishop Auckland Food Festival on Facebook or follow @bishfoodfest on Twitter or Instagram.