Brighton in Spring has never been so tasty!

Today I'll be handing over the blog to another guest blogger. Paula Seager, one of the organisers behind the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival, is here to tell us about the new Spring Harvest and all the foodie events you can look forward to in March -

The Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival team is holding the first ever spring harvest food festival fortnight - from 11 to 21 March – and we have a fantastic line up which offers something for everyone.

We kick off with the Sussex Beer & Cider Festival from 11 – 13 March, run by CAMRA in Hove Town Hall, offering a taste of 200 ales and ciders made in the UK, including many of our local brews. The big Sussex Market will open on 13-14 March in New Road and will offer some of the best local produce – both raw and ready to eat – so do come down!

We also have some fantastic firsts for Brighton – the Whisky Festival, at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on 20 March; the Chocolate Festival in New Road on 20 and 21 March; and the Brighton Eco Veggie Fayre at Hove Town Hall on 20 March.

Other scrummy treats include the Open House Dining, with local homes opening their doors to serve up great food to complete strangers; a local Sunday service from Brighton & Hove Buses will take Brightonians to good food pubs between Brighton and Eastbourne; and we have a huge programme of events at great local restaurants.

Our September festival is hugely popular and attracted over 100,000 people last year, so we want to build on that and make the most of all the seasons throughout the year, as Brighton has so much to offer food lovers. You could eat a great meal in a different outlet every single day of the year and frankly not enough people know about it!

In fact, for that reason, we will be launching the first Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards on 11 March, inviting local people and visitors to the city to vote for their favourite restaurants, food pubs, cafés and food shops – everyone has one vote per category, so after 11 March, go to www.brightonfoodawards.com

A mouth watering programme of other events is still being put together, but already includes a Terre a Tandoori Night at Terre a Terre in East Street on 15 March and a Hotel du vin Wine Night on 18 March.

Below are some of the events you can look forward to in March but stay tuned to www.brightonfoodfestival.co.uk for a full events listing:

• Thursday 11 - Sunday 21 March : Open House Dining
• Thursday 11 - 13 March : Sussex Beer Festival, Hove Town Hall
• Saturday 13 - 14 March : Big Sussex Market, New Road, Brighton
• Sunday 14 & 21 March : The Sussex Tour Bus Pub Trail, venues between Brighton & Eastbourne
• Monday 15 March : Terre á Terre ‘Balti Towers’ Night, Terre á Terre, East St, Brighton
• Tuesday 16 March : The Chilli Pickle Masterclass, Meeting House Lane, Brighton
• Saturday 20 March : Brighton Eco Veggie Fair, Hove Town Hall
• Saturday 20 March : The Whisky Festival, Hilton Brighton Metropole, Brighton
• Saturday 20 - 21 March : Brighton Chocolate Festival, New Road, Brighton