Arthur Potts-Dawson image courtesy of Oliver Lim

Tickets have just gone on sale for NewcastleGateshead EAT! festival of food and drink.

The launch party starts at 19:00 on Friday 1 May and is called Spring to Life. This is a celebration of a remarkable year of success in foodie awards for the North East.

The launch is at the magnificently refurbished St Mary’s on Gateshead Quays and features an outdoor barbeque, a seafood bar and gourmet canapés overseen by Black Door’s Dave Kennedy, who recently won ‘Best Main Course’ and was placed third overall at the prestigious UK Chef of the Year competition.

Dave’s menu will showcase a dozen of the best local award-winning producers including star of the show Beckleberry’s of Blaydon, this year’s UK Great Taste Supreme Champion. Award-winning wines come from Errazuriz of Chile and beers from Wylam, Allendale and Mordue.

There will also be live music entertainment.

Tickets to this event are usually £25 but if you work in the North East food industry there are a limited number of tickets for the special price of £15 – which includes plentiful award winning food, wine and beer!

Booking is via the Northern Stage box office on 0191 230 5151 or at www.northernstage.co.uk

When booking remember to quote code ‘Special Invite‘.

For more information in the event visit www.newcastlegateshead.com/eat