It has already wowed tens of thousands of food lovers and earlier this year was flagged up by The Sunday Times as a reason why Saltburn-by-the-Sea, just south of the mouth of the Tees, is now considered one of the best places to live in the UK.

Saltburn Food Festival has come a long way since its appearance five years ago.

It has quickly established itself as a ‘must attend’ event on the national foodie calendar, has attracted almost 100,000 visitors since 2013 and has become so much more than the glorified farmers’ market it started off as.

This year will see more than 100 artisan producers setting out their stalls on July 30, and for the first time this event, which is free to attend, will be making its presence felt across the picturesque coastal town of Saltburn.

There will be a bigger and better live cookery theatre, with an impressive line-up of award-winning chefs set to take centre stage.

Among the names who will be cooking up treats will be Debbie Raw, from BBC2’s A Further Step Back in Time; Steph Moon from the Great British Menu; former National Seafood Chef of the Year Rob Green who helped to transform Whitby’s restaurant scene as the host of Green’s of Whitby for 15 years; multi award-winning chef Richard Johns from Rascills Restaurant in Raskelf, North Yorkshire; Matt Hunter from York’s acclaimed Star Inn; and a festival favourite, Richard Ingram from Middlesbrough College.

There will be world foods, vegetarian and vegan specials, street theatre, live music, a festival fringe and, of course, a plethora of top-notch produce from across the North East and Yorkshire to whet the public’s appetites.

All being well, the sun will shine, the rain will keep away, and visitors and stallholders alike will all be in a celebratory mood.

If all this happens, festival organiser and founder Lorna Jackson will be able to heave a sigh of relief and enjoy the day alongside the thousands expected to descend on this classic British seaside town with its pier, water-powered lift and miniature railway.

It was a holiday to France that was the initial spark for launching the Saltburn Food Festival.

Lorna says: “The festival grew out of a very simple idea – to celebrate the great local food we have here on our doorstep in the North East and Yorkshire – and the last few years have been incredible really.

“I was on holiday in France with my family, in the historic wine region of Bergerac, on the north bank of the Dordogne. We were sitting at a busy night market, enjoying good local food right there in the street, and there was just an amazing sense of togetherness around the whole place.

“There was something really appealing about simply enjoying your surroundings with friends and family, basically reclaiming the streets for the whole community to enjoy.

“I thought there was nothing they were doing in France that we couldn’t do right here in Saltburn. So here we are.”

Lorna Jackson, director of Saltburn Food Festival
Lorna Jackson, director of Saltburn Food Festival

Lorna was already a foodie. She co-owns Saltburn’s family-run Real Meals Deli and Bistro, and also manages the town’s popular monthly farmers’ market.

However, she admits to being surprised at how popular the annual food festival has become.

“I hesitate to say it’s taken us by surprise, but it really has! It’s amazing to see thousands of people enjoying the day and it just gets better and better every year.

“We started out thinking ‘let’s see what happens’ and have been completely humbled that literally thousands of people have enjoyed some amazing days.

“Now it’s exciting to have more than 100 great stalls for the first time, and absolutely fantastic to be able to blossom and grow naturally into the rest of the town centre for the day.

“It gives us more space to play with, helping us create more dedicated street food and relaxed family outdoor dining areas, and it will be great to see the whole town centre transformed into a buzzing festival.

“We’re looking to build again on our reputation for finding unusual foods and creating a vibrant street party feeling right across town.”

She adds: “I’m already thinking of all the gorgeous food we can look forward to on the day – a slow roast lamb wrap, an African goat curry, French moules marinière or a good old-fashioned mackerel bap. And that’s just for starters.

“We’ll also have a number of gin distillers, over a dozen hand-pulled ciders, prosecco bars, candy floss and so much more besides, with lots of globally influenced food cooked and served by local producers.”

The fringe will see a cider festival at Saltburn House, at the far end of Milton Street, food and drink events on the terrace at The Spa Hotel on Saltburn Bank, and a cake garden at Brockley Hall boutique hotel opposite the bandstand in Glenside.

The food festival and monthly farmers’ market provides shoppers with produce they wouldn’t usually be able to find on the high street. The two events combined are also a great boost for small businesses.

Gourmet Scotch eggs from The Clucking Pig
Gourmet Scotch eggs from The Clucking Pig

Over the years the food festival and farmers’ market have helped launch a number of local producers and given them a chance to shine, like Redcar-based Clucking Pig and its gourmet Scotch eggs run by former policeman David Laing and his wife Christine; ‘Gingerbread Mam’ Liz Ramshaw from Stockton-on-Tees; Benjamin Wreford of Wreford’s Farm at Shotton Colliery; Amrik Rauth of Really Indian curry sauces in Leeds; and Nobia Deprez of Nobia African Cuisine in Middlesbrough.

Gingerbread Mam baking company
Gingerbread Mam baking company

Lorna says of the food festival: “It all comes together with some fantastic people, brilliant chefs and small independent producers who all share our passion for good local food.

“And I think it shows the town and the whole community in a really positive light. We hope that everyone has an enjoyable day, all with great local food taking centre stage.”

Benjamin Wreford from Wrefords Farm in County Durham
Benjamin Wreford from Wrefords Farm in County Durham

Saltburn Food Festival is on Sunday, July 30, between 10am and 6pm and admission is free. For further information, updates and the full programme of events, including timings for the Live Cookery Theatre, go to www.saltburnfoodfestivalco.uk .