TICKETS have been sold out for months, but foodies across Lancashire are getting excited about the annual coming together of prolific talents, mesmeric skills and outrageous egos at the Obsession Festival of Fine Food and Wine at Northcote Manor.

In its eighth year, the festival's guest list reads like a Who's Who of culinary luminaries with appearances from Mark Edwards, Anthony Flinn, Angela Hartnett, Pierre Koffmann, Philip Howard, Shane Osborn and Nigel Haworth.

But while they may all be serious about their art, this is an occasion for laughter and lasting memories.

The festival, running at Northcote Manor, Blackburn, from Monday until next Sunday, has become one of the country's foremost events and will see seven of the finest chefs in Europe combine and collide to create dishes that redefine the word 'gourmet' Every year, people who love the intricacies and subtleties of truly fine food make a pilgrimage to Northcote.

The whole week is given over to some of the top chefs in the world who gather here for the sheer joy of getting together and performing their magic for a truly appreciative audience.

Over the years most of the country's top chefs have travelled to Blackburn to grace the event, including Heston Blumenthal, Raymond Blanc, Nick Nairn, Brian Turner, John Torode, Georgio Locatelli, and Michel Roux.

Award-winning chef and co-found of the Northcote Group Nigel Haworth said: "The festival of food in its eighth year and goes from strength to strength. The talent this year is an incredible mixture of classic and new wave cookery, if you love great food, then make sure this in your diary, it's always the last week in January and not to be missed."

Among the notable events this year is the appearance in East Lancashire of Pierre Hoffman who achieved three Michelin stars for his restaurant La Tante Claire and Gordon Ramsay's protege Angela Hartnett who, as head chef at the Connaught in London, was awarded a Michelin star.

The line-up of chefs appearing at the festival is usually released in October, with tickets booking out often within hours of the information being released.

The Northcote Festival has firmly placed the North West as a serious food destination, promoting the region and showcasing the exceptional abundance of fresh produce.

  • Obsession Festival of Food & Wine runs from January 21 to 27 at Northcote Manor, Langho, Blackburn. For more information contact Kaye Mathew on 01254 240 555 or 07760 176434.