GET set for a mouth-watering event this September when a food, drink and crafts festival comes to Mansion House and Victoria Park for the very first time.

The family and community-orientated event – set to take place on Saturday, September 9 between 11am and 5pm – will focus on the setting of Victoria Park, which was recently recognised once again by the Green Flag Award Scheme as a world class green space.

Meanwhile, in the Mansion House, the Diamond Suite will be transformed into a tasting room for the day, serving a wide variety of international wines and local beers, together with a broad range of tapas style food – while the Orangery will be turned into a market place hosting a selection of artisan stallholders and exhibitors, with an area set aside for demonstrations.

The Mansion House itself will become home to a craft fair, housing a wide variety of stallholders – and the courtyard will feature a marquee which will present a live music, a barrel organ and speciality food stalls such as hog roast.

The Victoria Bistro will also be open for coffee, tea and cakes.

Children’s attractions, including donkey rides, mini carousels and face painting, will be on offer in the park throughout the day where live music will be performed on the bandstand.

The event is being hosted by the Rotary Club of St Helens in association with Friends of Victoria Park, Age UK Mid Mersey, Mansion House and St Helens Council.

Steve Lawson, of St Helens Rotary Club, said: “Although this is a new venture for the Rotary Club of St Helens, we’ve heard how well food, drink and crafts festivals have gone down with the public when staged elsewhere around the country, so we thought we’d give it a go and are very much looking forward to bringing this inaugural event to St Helens.”

He added: “There has been great support from main sponsors Costco and Houghwood Golf, together with key partner Connoisseur Ales, and several supermarkets, who are providing very welcome support for the event which promises to be a tasty occasion.”

There will be a charge of £2 for adults with concessions for accompanied children. Alcohol will not be permitted in the park.

If you are interested in getting involved, email sthelensrotary@icloud.com or call 01744 737393.