Countdown is on for biggest fest

A record number of restaurants is taking part in this year's Tennerfest, which begins on Wednesday. Menus will be offered in three price bands - £10, £12.50 and £15. A 48-page colour supplement published in association with the Guernsey Press today lists the menus on offer. 'We hope it will be even more successful, with almost double the number of restaurants taking part. 'It is a good promotion and easy to take part,' said Ged Kelly, from Hamilton Brooke, organiser of the event. 'Diners didn't like the increasing number of supplements that were being added for various dishes, but also appreciated that restaurants might need to charge a little extra to be able to keep offering the wide choice that the Channel Islands Tennerfest is famous for,' he explained. 'As a result, restaurants are now offering menus in three price bands.' About half are still priced at £10. A special £10 Condor fare to travel between the islands will encourage people to try other restaurants - more than 7,000 people made the journey last year. More information is available on www.condorferries.com In only the island's third Tennerfest, the biggest increase in entrants is from Jersey, although there are also record entries in Guernsey. In total, 162 special menus are on offer. 'We would like to hear from people to see how many restaurants they have been to and are keen to find out the record,' said Mr Kelly. 'I heard about someone who went to about 16 last year - perhaps if you had lunches and dinners, you might be able to go to a lot.' Guernsey Press editor Richard Digard said he was pleased to be supporting Tennerfest because it showcased the island's restaurants and also represented excellent value for money. The sixth Tennerfest starts on Wednesday and runs until 12 November. *The Good Food Guernsey Group - a sub-group of the Tourist Board - is planning a number of events for the next 12 months, including a hotel and restaurant-based eating-out promotion and competition in April, a seafood festival and fair in July, an ale and food festival in September and the Tennerfest next October. 'We are pleased with the response from locals and visitors to our first year of activities,' said Evan Ozanne, chairman of the group. 'We look forward to making them even stronger next year.' The group has appointed Hamilton Brooke to be event organiser for its programme for the next 12 months.