An event that has been three years in the making is set to finally happen on Friday evening (June 24) in Ashby.

Ashby Street Eats & Beats is designed to bring people together over a variety of food and drink from all over the world.

It will be held on the North Street car park and there is a £2 entry which gives you access to all the food stalls.

But this was an event that was first due to take place in April of 2020 - and obviously the Covid pandemic meant it could not happen.

However, the event was a year in the planning before that - which means it has taken the organisers three years to get to Friday's Ashby launch.

Abbey Christa-King of Street East & Beats, told Ashby Nub News: "We wanted to get this up and running two years ago, but then Covid came along and we didn't try last year either due to the restrictions.

"Let's hope we get a clear run at it this time.

"We'll be gating it all off at North Street, there's a £2 entry fee, but under fives are free.

"Everyone's free to come, it's a very inclusive atmosphere.

"We think it'll be very busy."

Abbey says there will be Thai and Jamaican food on offer with three different bars including a cocktail bar.

She added: "We also have a bar in the shape of a double decker bus, with seating above. There's also a gin bar in a horse box.

"But we also have music and a live DJ.

"The street food is from all over the world, and it's all cooked on site, so people can move from one stall to another and mix and match."

The event starts at 5.30pm on Friday and goes on to about 10.30.

Abbey said: "There'll be a gazebo in case it rains, but we hope it'll be good for the town as people will then go on to the pubs."

But she says the last two years have been tough for event organisers like this.

Abbey added: "It's been devastating and we're trying to claw our way back now and find out what the confidence is in towns like Ashby.

"The events industry is coming back.

"But this is the first of our Ashby events, we have monthly ones, it'll be July 29 and then one more on August 26.

"If you can't make Friday, please come to one of the other ones.

"What we want is to bring communities together in a safe environment, we have security on the door so it's a family and friends atmosphere.

"We want people to have a new meeting place."