Dog owners are being encouraged to bring their pooches along with them to this year’s Foodies Festival.
The festival, which runs on Hove Lawns over the May bank holiday weekend, will feature a dog area for the first time.
Competitions will include a lookalike contest followed by a Pawfection best in show contest, a Dog’s Got Talent show and dog handling displays and demonstrations from police officers.
The move to make Foodies Festival a dog-friendly event is welcomed by the RSPCA as they campaign to stop dogs being left in cars.
The designated outside arena offers owners a place to take their pets when they are unable to go in areas where food is being displayed.
An RSPCA spokesperson said: “This year, as part of the Dogs Die in Hot Cars campaign group, we’ve developed guidelines for event organisers running summer events on how to ensure their safety of their four-legged visitors and we’ve provided these to Foodies Festival.
“It’s great to hear that Foodies Festival will be dog-friendly and that families can bring their faithful friends along to the enjoy the events with them.”
Kate Toomer, chairman of Brighton Dogwatch and owner of Brighton Dogs Club will be helping to judge the fun contests.
She said: “Brighton Dogwatch are delighted to hear that the Foodies Festival this year in Brighton will be dog friendly.
“Statistics say that 23% of the Brighton population have dogs. The city of Brighton & Hove has been voted top ‘Dog Friendly City’ in the UK a number of times and there are more ‘Dog Meet-up Groups’ per population than any other UK city.
“We at Brighton Dogwatch know first hand how engaging and involved our dog community is with over 11k followers on our Brighton Dogwatch – Lost Dogs page.
“We totally encourage and support all our local shops, cafes/restaurants and indeed events within the city to be dog friendly.
“Our local dog loving community are very passionate about their dogs’ happiness and welfare and we love to take our dogs out to enjoy a day with us.
“Many travel companies highly recommend a holiday in Brighton with your furry family member and they are constantly recommending dog friendly places to go and things to do with our dogs.
“Brighton Dogwatch wishes Foodies Festival continued success.”
The 2019 Foodies Festival will dish up hundreds of exhibitors and award-winning artisan producers, a Street Food Village, the brand new Cakes and Desserts Theatre, a Kids Cookery School, Vegan Beer Tent, Healthy Living Area, Chef’s Theatre and Food and Drink masterclasses.
Last year’s MasterChef champion Kenny Tutt will be appearing again along with a host of Great British Bake Off stars and top local chefs showcasing their skills and providing expert culinary tips.
Festival director Sue Hitchen said: “We want the festival to offer something for all, including four-legged visitors.
“It’s a mammoth feat staging the festivals and we are working flat out in Foodies headquarters up in Edinburgh.
“Our office dog Bertie never fails to raise a smile and is such a pleasure to have about when we are very busy.”
Tickets, including VIP packages, are now on sale. Visit www.foodiesfestival.com or call 0844 9951111
