A FOODIE festival in Somerset returns this year - with free tickets being given to local health care heroes and key workers.

Pub in the Park is touring across the UK - and will be in Royal Victoria Park, Bath, from June 18 until 20.

The festival features chefs, musicians, artisan producers and more.

Chef Tom Kerridge will be bringing his friends, including James Martin, Stephen Terry, Josh Eggleton and Atul Kochhar.

“After the year we’ve had, I think everyone deserves a good-knees up – and what better way to do it than Pub in the Park,” said Tom.

“We’re so excited to be doing what we do best, bringing back our feel-good festival to the towns we love and filling it with lush music and proper good food!”

There will be pubs and restaurants including Kerridge’s two Michelin starred The Hand & Flowers, Paul Ainsworth’s The Mariners Public House, Tommy Banks’ Root, The Olive Tree Bath Stephen Terry’s The Hardwick, Atul Kochhar’s Restaurants including the amazing Vaasu and Sindhu, and more.

In every town, Pub in the Park will also be staging a special session called A Thousand Thank You’s. Free tickets will be provided to local health care heroes and key workers - that will be 8,000 Thank You’s across the whole tour.

“Key workers have been the true superheroes of this pandemic, and we want to say thanks by offering 1000 complimentary tickets in each of our towns so these superstars can let their hair down while enjoying some awesome music and lush grub,” Tom added.

Pub in the Park will be working with NHS trusts, the emergency services, and local people to allocate these tickets.

Pub in the Park has been designed with these times in mind and has been awarded the Visit Britain ‘Good to Go’ certification, meaning the tour will have Covid-safety measures in place if needed, but as government restrictions ease so will the events.

Chris Hughes, CEO at Brand Events, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing back our brilliant food, drink and music festival to eight towns in 2021. All our events are flexible, adaptable and ready to get even more free as the country begins to unlock. We’re ready to bring the public some much needed fun – watch out for more line-up announcements and tickets on-sale soon.”

Tickets will be on sale from March 19. To book visit pubintheparkuk.com.