WEYMOUTH harbourside will be the setting for an international food village at this year’s carnival as organisers up their game in the run-up to the Olympics.

The champagne will be flowing and exotic treats sampled in a big marquee and at stalls along Custom House Quay.

A food village was trialled for the first time at last year’s carnival and proved a hit with visitors.

Building on that success, the village is being expanded with new elements added after organisers struck a three-year deal with a new partner.

The company involved, London-based Oceans Live, has been working with Swedish chef Christian Sandefeldt in developing the carnival food village.

Mr Sandefeldt set up the Deep Restaurant in London and now manages Deep Events which has been responsible for food in the VIP areas at some of the UK’s largest music festivals.

The marquee will house a champagne bar and stalls featuring culinary delights such as Asian, Middle Eastern, seafood and a barbecue and grill. An original plan to set up a restaurant has been shelved due to space restrictions.

As well as the marquee there will be mobile stalls dotted along the raised loading stage.

Oceans Live will also be running a bar on the beach next to the Waterside Arena main stage, the venue for a live music party.

Managing director of Oceans Live Reg Nash said: “Oceans Live is proud to be a partner of the Weymouth Carnival and Air Show for the next three years.

“This is a really exciting time for Weymouth in the build-up to the Olympics and we will be bringing a variety of new flavours to the annual event including an international food village.”

The food village and the beach bar will be open 6pm-10pm on the evening before carnival day and throughout the big day itself until 10pm.

Chairman of the Carnival Committee Shaun Hennessy said organisers were delighted to have Oceans Live on board.

He added: “We’re upping our game at the carnival and are thrilled to be hosting the food village and beach bar.

“They will be open the evening before the carnival as well allowing people more of an opportunity to see what’s on offer.”

Mr Hennessy said he was aware that some town centre traders had concerns last year that the harbourside food stalls would affect their business on one of the busiest days of the year.

He said: “We understand that the carnival presents an opportunity to boost trade but feedback from visitors shows that there’s a need for more food outlets.

“Last year it was a step in the right direction and traders said they were willing to come back.”

Weymouth Carnival and Air Show will be held on Wednesday August 17.

The air show element has been expanded so there will be about one aerial event every hour throughout the day.

There will be a big stage on the beach again this year near the Pavilion. Known as the Waterside Arena, it will host a fabulous line-up of local talent on Tuesday evening and Wednesday. During the afternoon on carnival day a party on the beach will be headlined by former X-Factor contestants Katie Waissel and Lloyd Daniels as well as rising girl band Oh My!

As well as enjoying all the fun, a lucky person will get the keys to a brand new car at the end of the day – as long as they buy a ticket. These can be bought at weekends from a stall on the seafront or at supermarkets.

Weymouth Carnival is on the biggest charity events of its kind in the region. For more details about carnival events and how to get involved visit: weymouthcarnival.co.uk