A NEW six-week food festival is being planned for Weymouth during October and November.

Called FEAST, the six-week event is supported by the Weymouth BID and will take place within a selection of Weymouth's finest independent restaurants.

The event has been launched to try and entice more tourists to visit the town during the quieter “shoulder season months” and seven businesses from the town have already signed up.

Alison Theobold, joint chairman of Weymouth BID, said: “A dining event out of season had always been in Weymouth BID's business plan.

“With such an array of independent eateries, we really wanted to celebrate them and draw people into the town. We have seen the success of Tenner Fest in Jersey and look forward to making FEAST Weymouth a popular yearly event for Weymouth.”

Funded by the BID, all levy payers will be able to participate in the event for free and more restaurants in the town are being invited to sign up, but will need to pay a small fee if they are not levy payers.

The FEAST Weymouth promotion will work with each participating venue providing a set-menu or offer within the price ranges of £10, £15, £20 for customers to dine at their establishment throughout the month of October and until November 15.

Each venue will have their own terms and conditions so diners are encouraged to call ahead and book. Menus for each participating venue will be displayed across the weareweymouth website and Weymouth BID website.

Katharine Wright of Dorset Food & Drink has also offered her support for the event. She said: “October is fast becoming a very 'foodie' month for Dorset. We have Dorset Food Week and Screen Bites which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary all happening in October.

“I think FEAST Weymouth is a very exciting new event which I believe could one day work for many other towns in Dorset”.

Mallams, The Dining Room, The Dorset Burger Company, The Balti House, The George Bar & Grill, Il Porto and Sense have all signed up to the event already, and Janice Gossen, of Mallams, said: “This is a great event that could really enable businesses to flourish during a quiet time in our seasonal town, we look forward to supporting anyway we can”.

Ali Record, from The George Bar & Grill added: “We are delighted to be supporting this new event. Weymouth has been crying out for an event like this for years and we look forward to a great autumn."