MALDON is preparing for the UK’s largest BBQ and outdoor cooking festival which celebrates the art of cooking with fire.

Smoke and Fire Festival will be at Maldon’s Promenade Park on August 17 and 18, where talented chefs will come together to show their skills as chefs, as well as butchers and artisans to a wide audience of food enthusiasts.

Festival goers can watch the Great British Open Freestyle BBQ Championships with teams competing in various rounds including a SCA Steak Cook off.

Plenty - There will be so much food on offer for visitorsPlenty - There will be so much food on offer for visitors (Image: Credited)

The team with the highest overall score will be crowned this year’s champion, with a cash prize and thousands of pounds worth of BBQ equipment and accessories.

For those wanting to test their own eating skills, they’re looking for participants in the extreme chilli and hot wing eating challenges.

Headlining the stage on the Saturday evening is the popular English pop rock band The Hoosiers.

Hungry - The burgers will definitely fill peoples stomachsHungry - The burgers will definitely fill peoples stomachs (Image: Credited)

Camping is also available on-site for the weekend.

Along with the food and culinary side of the festival, there will also be a real ale and cider festival, VIP lounges with champagne and cocktails, and DJs.

A further part of the festival is ‘BBQ Alley’ which showcases the latest BBQs, equipment and accessories.

There will be entertainment there for all the family, with fairground rides, bouncy castles, free circus workshops and a bucking rodeo bull contest.

Managing director for Smoke & Fire Festivals this year, Ashley Peniston-Bird said: "The Smoke and Fire Festival is a celebration of BBQ culture, featuring cooking demos, competitions, live music, and more.

“It attracts thousands of visitors each year, offering a unique blend of culinary excellence and entertainment."

Festival organisers have also been working with City Harvest to donate food. 

Mr Peniston-Bird added: “This comes especially at a time when so many people are facing difficulties.

"It’s an honour to work with the charity to ensure the meat from our World Butcher Wars competition goes to those who need it most.”