ABOUT 30,000 food lovers are expected to attend the Chester Food, Drink and Lifestyle Festival 2015 over the Easter weekend. The event has previously injected an estimated £2.5million into the city’s economy thanks to hotel bookings, sightseeing and meals out from tourists who flock to the event. Visitors flock from across the region and further afield to take in the foodie delights and see the celebrity chefs’ demonstrations at the three-day Chester Racecourse event. Organiser Stephen Wundke said. “When we started this event it was put on at Easter at the request of hoteliers who said as nothing happened over Easter in Chester the city was deserted.  “Now all that has changed and 14 years later Chester has an event that generates more than £2.5 million in economic benefit and really has had an impact across the region. “Every year thousands of families come to enjoy really good food and drink and have a great time together.” Celebrity chefs such as Sunday Brunch star Simon Rimmer, New Moon celebrity chef David Mooney, rising star Luke Thomas and AA rosette chef Mark Walker will give demonstrations throughout the weekend.  Masterchef presenter Greg Wallace will help judge the We Love Cheshire Sous Chef Challenge, which sees four local sous chefs fight it out on the stage to be this year’s champion and have a chance to compete on Masterchef. On Easter Monday French star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli is scheduled to mentor local stars as he puts Liam McKay from The Chefs Table, Ian Penn of 1539 and Matt Worswick from Lawns at Thornton Hall through their paces on the main stage.  They are set to be joined by Andrew Nutter – the original rock and roll chef. Free children’s cooking classes will be put on by the Academy of Culinary Arts as well as the Sausage Competition final. There is a packed itinerary at the Artfest, which will see free seminars put on by some top UK top artists such as Joe Francis Dowden, Geoff Kersey and David Hyde with art on display from more than 40 local artists.