Terry Laybourne MBE, founder of 21 Hospitality Group, was the first chef to bring a Michelin star to the region, when he opened Newcastle’s 21 Queen Street in 1988.

Laybourne will be the keynote speaker at the Universal Cookery and Food Festival 2015, Vallum Farm, near Matfen, Northumberland, on 23rd September.

The festival aims to give chefs up and down the country the opportunity to meet and talk directly with game-keepers, farmers, growers and food producers and is being held in the north of England for the first time.

Newcastle-born Laybourne will head a roll call of chefs and senior industry figures sharing their ‘pearls of wisdom’ and talking about the twists and turns of their careers in an informal, conversational-style, discussion at the one-day trade event.

Laybourne said: “The great thing about a career in cookery is that it offers such diversity and longevity. The messages we’ll be delivering to the young chefs at the event are that there is more than one route to take and that you never stop learning.

“Even after all my years in the industry, I’m still learning from the young people in my employ and they, in turn, benefit from my experience. That’s really the recipe for a successful team; a combination of young chefs with new ideas and techniques and older chefs, with well-honed skills and experience - and events like this are really important because they bring the two together.”

Some of the UK’s biggest caterers, retailers and restaurant chains have also signed up to take part in the festival, including Sodexo, Marks and Spencer and Waitrose.

Other attractions will include a farmers’ market, showcasing the finest produce, ingredients and equipment from national and regional suppliers and an Innovation Zone, displaying and demonstrating new culinary products and produce.

Attendees will also be able to sample a wide range of food at the event, which will draw to a close with an evening barbecue, local band and free beer in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall.