MORE than 230 business people have already bought tickets for the 1st Great Plymouth Wine Tasting Festival on Thursday.

The event is the brainchild of Stephen Barrett, pictured right, boss of Ebrington Street's Bistro One restaurant, who sees it as an excellent networking opportunity as well as a chance to enjoy 'a decent cheese and pate and a bit of jazz'.

He said professionals such as lawyers, accountants and estate agents, had snapped up the tickets and he is already planning to stage another.

"With the success of this we will do one next year, and maybe twice a year. From half bottles magnums will grow."

Mr Barrett, a wine writer too, got the idea when he attended a similar event in Exeter.

"I said 'I could do this in Plymouth'," he told The Herald.

"I could see it would be a success and ticket sales have proved that."

Mr Barrett said the festival will feature more than 80 wines from Tavistock's Charles Steevenson. Wines, which can be sampled and bought, and experts from the firm too at each of up to 10 tables to answer questions.

"The theme is 'summer wines', we will be looking for colourful, wonderful wines that suit our summer," Mr Barrett said.

"And some interesting and quirky specials, champagnes, sparkling and fortified.

"People will be able to taste and discuss the wines with an expert and then purchase and have the wines delivered."

The event will also feature Bistro One's Oyster and Black Velvet Bar, Pyman's Pates, Spanish olives and olive oil tasting, cheeses from West Country firms Ashridge and Worthy Farm and, for the 'palate fatigued', Devonshire tea.

Jazz will be played by the Roy Pellett Quartet and St Luke's Hospice will benefit from a charity wine draw.

Artists Martin Bush and Stephen Fuller will display work.

The event is sponsored by Begbies Traynor Accountants, and supported by Urban Splash and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce.

The festival is in the Mills Bakery, Royal William Yard, Stonehouse, on May 27, 5.30pm to 8pm. Tickets: £10 from Bistro One, 01752 313315 or from www.bistro-one.co.uk, or £15 on the night, but attendance is limited to 250 persons, aged 18 and over.