Shrewsbury residents are being invited to sample the Tastes of Asia, a brand-new food event bringing together authentic flavours from across Asia for an afternoon of food, culture and community.

Hosted by the Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Bernie Bentick, the event takes place at Smithy’s Bar at Shrewsbury Town Football Club on Sunday 18 October, with doors open from 12 noon until 6pm.

Residents can arrive at any time during the six-hour window, meaning there is no need to spend the whole afternoon at the event. Tickets allow visitors to drop in, enjoy some food and drink, try something new and soak up the atmosphere at a time that suits them.

Tastes of Asia will bring together a selection of local community groups and food providers, offering residents the opportunity to sample dishes from Thai, Vietnamese, Nepalese, Indian, Sri Lankan and Turkish cuisines.

The dishes will be served in sample-sized portions, allowing guests to try a variety of different flavours rather than committing to a full meal.

Tickets cost £20 per person, with £10 of that ticket price returned to you as food and drink tokens to spend at the event. The tokens can be used to sample the different dishes and drinks available. For example, your initial £10 could buy you a drink plus a couple of sample dishes, with individual dishes expected to cost around £2 to £4 worth of tokens, depending on what you choose.

If you want to sample more food dishes, additional food and drink tokens can be purchased at the event, giving guests the flexibility of sampling as many different dishes as they wish.

As well as the food, there will be local drinks available from Rad Beer and Rowton Vineyard.

Anyone with specific dietary requirements is asked to make these known when booking their tickets. Where possible, alternatives will be provided. The Mayor’s charity team is also working closely with participating caterers to ensure food is clearly labelled for relevant intolerances.

Tastes of Asia takes place at Smithy’s Bar, Shrewsbury Town Football Club on Sunday 18 October from 12pm – 6pm. Tickets are available via the Shrewsbury Town Council website.