THIS year's Food and Drink Festival is on the move after organisers decided more space was needed to improve the event.

For the last two years the festival has taken place in the Villa Marina Gardens however it will now move to The Nunnery on the Old Castletown Road. 

Audrey Fowler, marketing officer at the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: "After the festival last year the producers felt that more space was needed to enable the festival to grow.

"Although the Villa Marina garden was a fantastic showcase for the festival, the majority of the exhibitors felt that more space was needed to enable the festival to grow. It was decided that The Nunnery gardens would be the best venue for 2011."   

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture will continue to take the lead role in planning and funding the festival but this year a new committee made up of local producers will also have an input.

Audrey added: "The committee are working very hard to make this next event a success."

The Food and Drink Festival will take place on September 24 and 25 from 10am to 4pm.