More than 50,000 people headed for Sheffield city centre to enjoy the city’s food festival – with organisers hailing it as the best yet.

Footfall was at an all-time high as Sheffield Food Festival celebrated its ninth birthday in style – with an ever-more diverse range of stalls including eight city breweries, a host of independent food stands and educational events for all the family.

Councillor Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Leisure at Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield Food Festival just gets better and better. The four days were all packed with people sampling a diverse range of food, drink and entertainment.

“This festival has never lost its heart and soul, and the fact that it is quintessentially Sheffield. It continues to evolve and put the city right at the top of the culinary map. This would have been unthinkable nine years ago when the festival started so all credit to the organisers, Events Collective Ltd, and our own major events team, for making Sheffield such an excellent food destination.

”Sheffield Food Festival is now a staple diet in the city’s events calendar.”

Preparations are already in place for the festival’s tenth birthday which takes place next year.

Sheffield Food Festival is a celebration of the city’s vibrant food scene, showcasing our great local produce, talented chefs, mouth-watering street food and outstanding brewers and distillers.

The city’s largest free to attend event took place for its ninth year from 24th – 27th May 2019 in the city centre, spreading across the Peace Gardens, Winter Gardens, Millennium Square, Town Hall Square and Fargate.

Its Artisan Market features food producers and businesses from around Sheffield and further afield, bringing a range of preserves, oils, cakes, cookery books, craft beers, gins, pies and much more for you to take home and enjoy.

At the heart of the festival is the Theatre Kitchen, featuring top chefs from across the city and showing how to get the best from the great local produce on offer.

The extensive Street Food Market was  jam packed with delicious treats from local companies and the Eats, Treats & Beats Festival Village had a hand picked selection of our very best street food traders open into the night, alongside a stylish stretch tent, al fresco seating, bar stocked by great local breweries and fantastic live music and DJs.