Well, as Cardiff's ever popular Food and Drink Festival returns to Roald Dahl Plass next weekend for the first time since the pandemic, there's plenty of both on offer.

On the food side, a total of 82 traders will be at the site, spread across a farmers' market section, the street food piazza and a producers' fair. Among the delights are a host of gin and liqueur makers, including Hensol Castle Distillery from the Vale of Glamorgan and Old Bakery Gin of London, whose customers include Buckingham Palace.

Food retailers include Emily's Kitchen Bakes, a one-woman business from Cardiff, festival regulars the Purple Poppadom, and the award-winning Pregos Street Food.

As popular as the food, of course, is the music which will be on offer throughout the festival.

Bands will take to the stage on the hour throughout each of the three days of the festival, from noon until 9pm on Friday and Saturday, and from noon until 6pm on the Sunday. Among the acts confirmed this year are:

·       Jack Macs Funk Pack, Darren Eeden and the Slim Pickins, Kasai Masai and J4 Jazz Band (Friday)

·       Fiesta Resistance, Dave Cottle Trio, Bayside Boogiemen, Successors of the Mandingue (Saturday)

·       The Sun Kings, Nadia Darby Band, Rev James and the Swingtown Cowboys (Sunday)

Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke-Davies said: "The Food and Drink Festival has long been one of Cardiff's most-popular events and it's been missed by many over the last few years, so we're delighted to see it return to Cardiff Bay this summer."

Cardiff Bus will be running a full scheduled service throughout the weekend and there will be trains from Queen Street station to the Bay every 12 minutes and regular water taxis from Bute Park. Additional temporary cycle racks will be available at the north end of the Oval Basin. ‘Blue Badge' parking is available at the Mermaid Quay and Pierhead Street car parks.

·       The Cardiff Food and Drink Festival is free to attend and will be open on Friday, July 1 (noon-10pm), Saturday, July 2 (11am-10pm) and Sunday, July 3 (11am-7pm). For more details, click onhttps://www.visitcardiff.com/food-drink/