"We've called it Fiesta because it’s an eclectic mix,” says event manager Mike Marchant, ahead of Eastbourne’s inaugral festival of international cuisine and culture.

Collaborating with the Eastbourne Cultural Communities Network (ECCN), Eastbourne Borough Council aims to bring together the groups and organisations that make up the city’s diverse communities in a unique Bank Holiday celebration.

Featuring a number of events across the weekend – including Hungarian, Russian, Nepalese and Bollywood dance performances, live music, an outdoor Zumba session and Pride events with Bourne Out – the festival is packed, although its main focus remains firmly on the food side of things.

“We’re putting a toe in the water with a bit of a food theatre. We’re going to put up a tent and Peter Bayless, who won Masterchef in 2006, is coming to prepare and cook a Greek dish of keftedes me kritheraki. Various local restaurants are also going to come along and demonstrate some signature dishes,” he says.

“Thai Terre, for example, will be doing vegetable carving and pad Thai dishes on Sunday and Jason Peter Menzies, head chef at Printers Bar Brasserie, will be demonstrating their ‘hot rock’ style of cooking.”

With the Eastbourne Cycling last weekend and the hugely successful public screening of the Royal Wedding in Princes Park, Fiesta’s genesis came from the council’s wish to see more events happening in town during the earlier part of the summer months before such iconic events as Eastbourne Extreme and the AEGON International Tennis tournament kicked off.

“The initial idea for the event came from a local hotelier – he was Portuguese and pointed out there were lots of cultures in the local community that something could be built around.

"We had some discussions with the ECCN – who were already doing some small-scale stuff – and they got on board,” Marchant explains.

“They’re planning to bring along about 50 stalls – everyone from local cafes Greens Vegetarian Café and The International Café to Indian restaurant Spice Garden and Asian food market The Elephant will be there.”

The weekend will also encompass a small-scale beer festival, with 20 of Sussex’s local regional ales represented.

“We’ve had a great track record of doing a beer festival for eight years, so we know a little bit about doing beer.

“Dark Star, Welton’s Brewery and Hepworth are there, and we’ve some stuff from Ramsgate and the Beachy Head brewery, who won our Beer Of The Festival last year,” he says.

“They’re all £3 – plus there’s cider casks too.

“I’m looking forward to the beer.”

The West Sussex Jaguar Owners club will also be on hand, displaying their vehicles on the Western Lawns on Sunday, and the festival has blossomed out to incorporate the city’s regular Italian market on Sunday and Monday.

“There’s so much going on from the bones of quite a small idea. If it floats the boat with people, hopefully we can do it again next year,” Marchant says.

“I think it’s something we can build up – it’ll capture people’s imagination quite nicely.”

* 11am-9pm (Saturday) and 11am-5pm, free. Call 0871 663 0031 or visit www.visiteastbourne.com/ events/fiesta.aspx for more information and timings