HE’S not only a highly skilled executive chef at the award-winning Highcliff Grill at the Marriott Hotel, but also a true ambassador for the Bournemouth Food & Drink Festival.

Matt Budden said: “I really want to promote Bournemouth as a foodie destination and the Bournemouth Food & Drink Festival is the best way to do that because it helps to break down barriers by taking chefs out of the kitchen and into the public eye so people can ask questions and see them at work.”

Matt is one of several local chefs who will be giving demonstrations in The Square, but the hotel is also hosting three events as part of the festival.

He said: “We didn’t want the festival to be just centred around The Square this year – we wanted to put different events on around the town which is why we are hosting three events at the hotel (see details below).

The Highcliff team won the Taste of Dorset Best Restaurant Award in 2013 and has been awarded three stars from the sustainable restaurant association – its highest accolade.

Matt is passionate about using only the best locally-sourced fish, meats and shellfish presented in imaginative, new ways.

He said: “During the last five days of the festival we will have a food van in the Square where we will be making cuttlefish calamari and fish dogs – something a bit different.”

Events: Smokin’ Hot BBQ masterclass on Friday June 20 from 7pm to 10pm. Discover the secrets of the perfect barbie with beer by local brewery Sunny Republic. Price £35 per person which includes six half pints of locally-brewed beers, barbecue and masterclass. To book, call 01202 200813.

Kids’ Kitchen with Sue Quinn on Saturday June 21 from 10am to noon. Sue Quinn, local author of The Kids Only Cookbook, invites kids aged five to 12 to a morning of baking and games. Price £5 per child. To book, call 01202 200813.

Great British Garden Party on Monday June 23 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. A quintessentially British afternoon tea with an array of finger sandwiches, home-baked cakes and warm home-made scones with lashings of clotted cream and Dorset preserves. Price £23 per person. To book, call 01202 200813.