A NEW food and drink festival will be coming to Bradford next month – and is the first new festival in the run up to Bradford’s City of Culture year.

Taste:BD has been described as the “flagship” food and drink festival for the district, and will take place on Saturday April 29 and Sunday April 30.

Not all the details, such as the location or vendors, have been released, but organisers say it will be held over “two landmark locations” in “the heart of Bradford.”

Bradford’s 2025 City of Culture team mentioned the festival when giving a presentation about the year to West Yorkshire Combined Authority earlier this year.

They said it would be part of a “runway” of events planned for the district in the lead up to 2025.

It has been organised by Bradford Council and Raven Staging -  the partnership that brought last year’s successful SUP festivals to Shipley and Bingley.

The announcement of the festival said: “The event will showcase the very best in Bradford businesses, accompanied by unique and exciting entertainment, suitable for the whole family. Spanning two landmark locations, the two-day festival will turn the city’s centre into a lively celebration of local culture.

“Visitors can expect a wide selection of delicious street food, high-end artisanal market stalls and a range of exceptional drink options, exhibiting Bradford’s most exciting businesses in one vibrant celebration.

“The festival will also feature a range of live entertainment - including the revival of some stunning large-scale artworks from Bradford’s proud festival past.”

Eddie Kean - event manager for Taste:BD/Director of Raven Staging said: “Following on from the success of last year’s SUP festivals, we’re very excited to be scaling up and bringing our signature vibrancy to the centre of Bradford “The city of Bradford perhaps expresses its cultural diversity best through its amazing food and drink options and we can’t wait to bring the very best of these into one space at Taste:BD.

“We relish the opportunity to help establish Bradford as a world class destination for foodies and revellers alike. Our aim is to deliver a genuinely joyful event, whilst lifting our district’s success stories onto the pedestals they deserve.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “There will be something on offer for all ages and I hope everyone takes the opportunity to come to the city centre for the first outdoor festival of the year.”