AS excitement mounts for this weekend's Newport Food Festival the council has thanked sponsors who made this popular event possible.

The Tiny Rebel Newport Food Festival takes place in the city this Saturday, October 6 and is again hosted by Newport City Council.

But the event could not take place without the support of its sponsors and for the past three years the council have popular local brewers Tiny Rebel to thank for backing the event.

They join sponsors Newport Now, the Celtic Manor and Friars Walk.

Council leader Councillor Debbie Wilcox said: “This is the eighth year of the council organising this festival which I’m delighted to say has grown in popularity, attracting thousands of visitors on the day.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our main sponsors, the award winning brewers Tiny Rebel along with our other sponsors Newport Now, the Celtic Manor and Friars Walk.

“The event really is a team effort and visitors can witness that for themselves on the day when they visit the High Street and Newport Indoor Market then take a stroll to Pobl Group offices for more chef demos and Usk Plaza in Friars Walk.”

Brad from Tiny Rebel said: "Tiny Rebel is really pleased to be sponsoring the Newport Food and Drink Festival for the third year. Once again we're really looking forward to seeing the tremendous products on offer from Newport and the surrounding area. It's great for Newport as a city and great for the growing food and drink industry in the area."

Celtic Manor Resort marketing director Vanessa Russell: “We are proud to once again sponsor the Newport Food and Drink Festival and we have been delighted to see it go from strength to strength during the years of our involvement. We are particularly pleased to support and help judge the TeenChef competition where the standard is always so high. Hopefully we will see the next generation of local chefs emerge from opportunities like this.”

Kevin Ward, manager of the Newport Now Business Improvement District, said: “As the organisation that represents more than 400 city centre businesses, the BID is delighted to again be supporting the Food and Drink Festival. The event brings thousands of people into the city centre and the BID supports any initiative that increases footfall for traders.

“The Newport Now Zone is based in High Street, upstairs in the market and in the Pobl building, and houses events such as the chef demonstrations and the TeenChef competition sponsored by the Celtic Manor.

“We’re looking forward to another fantastic food festival.”

Simon Pullen, centre manager at Friars Walk, said: “Newport’s annual Food Festival adds a real buzz to the city centre, and we are delighted to be showcasing some of the fantastic chefs who work at our popular restaurants. This event gives these local chefs the chance to come out from their kitchens and show us how to make some of their favourite dishes.”