The night market returns to Kingston this evening, ahead of a big weekend at the annual Kingston Food Festival.

The StockMKT team will be bringing its popular, Far East-inspired night time offering back to the Ancient Market Place later today, for the first time since the historic site was re-opened following a £3m revamp.

Running from 5.30pm to 10pm, expect the usual mix of international street food, crafts, fashion and live music, during what will hopefully turn out to be suitably balmy weather conditions.   

But that is just for starters, with the main course arriving on Saturday in the shape of the Big Kingston Market.

Foodies are invited to sample their way through restaurant food trails, wine tasting sessions and live cooking demonstrations hosted by town centre managers Kingstonfirst.

Surrey Comet: Fernando Calvo and Sharon Reid at the Kingston Food Festival

Kingston Food Festival is back this weekend

An extreme food challenge featuring odd delicacies from around the world will be just one of the offerings at the two-day event, while cooking demonstrations from top chefs take place on the Live Food Show stage. 

Children will also have the chance to get interactive with workshops on nutritious fruit and vegetables and pasta making.

Restaurant Week, which began on Monday, will continue to offer exclusive deals at town centre restaraunts throughout the weekend.

Last year’s successful chilli challenge - which saw contenders make their way through peppers, scotch bonnets and red naga chillis - is also back for those who think they can handle the heat.

Kingston Food Festival will be open on both Saturday August 2 and Sunday, August 3.

For more information visit kingstonfoodfestival.com.