While there's change on the menu once again for a North East summer food festival this week, there's one ingredient that is guaranteed to stay the same: its renowned chilli-eating contest.
The fiery challenge will be making a return from July 5-7 at the Festival by the Sea, which was previously known as the North East Chilli Fest.
And regulars to the food festival - one of several run by husband and wife Mark and Shelley Deakin - will be in for some extra-hot competition this time as special guest Shahina Zeenat Waseem from London, who is known as the UK Chilli Queen, takes on some willing volunteers in a head-to-head challenge.
The newly-named Festival by the Sea will take place at South Beach in Blyth , Northumberland .
Its Meggies Burn Fields location was itself a new site for the festival last year, when it moved from its previous home of five years at Seaton Delaval Hall, and 2018 also saw other changes including a new look and a new theme: The Festival by the Sea, which has now been adopted as its name.
Its traditional chilli-eating competition, which is hosted by Rob Dumbrell, lies at the heart of the fun and has been described by Mark, who also co-runs the region's Proper Food and Drink Festivals, as a "cross between a pantomime and gladiatorial contest".
This year - with the addition of Shahina, who remains undefeated after 50 competitions - "it’s getting really serious", he said, adding: “Our brave amateurs will be taking on one of the greatest and bravest competitive chilli eaters in history.”
Already one challenger has signed up to take her on: keyboard player Mike Porter from local band Smoove and Turrrell who will be playing at the festival.
And well-known names are set to follow, said Mark.
"We can’t say who they are yet but, put it this way, I think we’re going to have a lot of tears and fake tan stains on the stage afterwards,” he said.
Other music acts set to play during the festival are The Neville Staple Band, The Mighty Smoking Spitfires, Third Beat Drop, Bombskare, Dennis, Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 and The Lancashire Hotpots.
Also on the line-up are The Skapones, Voice of the Town, Nick Pride and The Pimptones, Hip Hop Hooray, Hot Bullets of Shotgun, SOULutions and The Caffreys.
Besides the main outdoor stage, the festival ground houses marquees for exhibitors and performers, a producers’ market, beer and cocktail bars and street food.
There also will be children’s activities; arts and crafts and a holistic healing zone.
And anyone wanting to spend longer at the event can take advantage of a campsite for motorhomes, caravans and tents, as well as plenty of on-site parking.
Tickets, which also will be available on the door, range from £8 for adults up to £40 for a weekend pass and camping. Under-fives have free entry and there will be a kids’ area among the facilities.
To buy tickets see here.
