Feast is a celebration of Leeds' independent food and drink scene

A NINETEEN-day celebration of the thriving independent food and drink scene in Leeds has whetted the appetite ofcity foodies by announcing the first events for this year’s festival.

Tickets went on sale for Leeds Indie Food Festival on Monday night and are being snapped up faster than hot cross buns for tasty events which range from a pizza and prosecco festival to Scotch egg collaborations.

For the latter, it has been confirmed that Leeds’ oldest pub, Whitelock’s Ale House,has teamed up with Bundobust, Ox Club and Reliance to celebrate the British classic.

Street food at Belgrave.

Other events in the pipeline include an interactive chef’s table event at, Leeds Cookery School, the aforementioned pizza and prosecco festival at canal-side Water Lane Boathouse, a dining experience with Parm Star dedicated to parmos and parmas, chocolate-making with Tyto Leodis, a pizza collaboration menu at Tapped Brew Co, a tasting wine dinner curated by Chris Hill from Latitude Wine and the head chef at Laynes Espresso, a talk with local independent food vendors curated by Glug Leeds, a beer festival at Canal Mills and street food events at Eat North and Belgrave Feast.

A school dinner at Chapel Allerton.

Gin fans meet the distiller with Forest Gin.

This year’s festival will also focus on the importance of sustainability, with a number of independent businesses committing to working towards zero waste policies and helping Leeds apply for the sustainable city badge.

Simon Fogal, Leeds Indie Food and I Like Press Director, said: "How did we get to year four? We have built one of the country’s most exciting and progressive food festivals and have big plans for it for the future and establishing it as one of the best cultural festivals in Leeds.

"The first events feature new people taking part in the festival, new collaborations and new products being put into testing, more street food, more supper clubs and trying to take the festival passport to a new level of discovery around the city. So many great things to announce over the next few weeks.

“Since taking the reins, we have had to do a lot of things quite quickly and as always the indie community have jumped on board. We have lots of work to do in showcasing our vibrant scene and this is just the beginning.”

The festival which is being backed by Leeds BID runs between May 10 to 28.