THE second annual Coastguard Historical Food Festival has been hailed as a success by organisers at the restaurant.

As well as an increase in visitor numbers compared to last year, the St Margaret's-based festival was the subject of filming by a documentary crew.

Sam Wydymus chef and owner at The Coastguard, said: "We were amazed at the turnout, not only from regulars and locals but from people who had heard about the Historical Food Festival and planned their holiday around the date. I've been told our festival is quite unique and we even had a documentary crew filming us this year for broadcast in America."

The festival, on September 4, featured a medieval encampment created especially for the occasion, containing culinary goodies including mead, raw milk cheeses, wild yeast bread and ginger fairings, with Kentish beer and cider to wash it down.

There was also a breath freshener made according to an ancient recipe.

Other attractions on the day included cookery demonstrations, basket weaving and a blacksmith on hand forging cutlery.

Mr Wydymus said: "Everyone joined in with the festivities, with adults and children making great use of the dressing-up tent to try on authentic medieval garb, as well as the odd princess and knight for the little ones.

"The historical puppet shows were also extremely popular, as was the medieval band.

"The response this year was tremendous, with people already asking about 2012.

"It has certainly paved the way to making the Historical Food Festival one of the great small events of the south east calendar."

Visit the Coastguard website at www.thecoastguard.co.uk or follow the Coastguard on Twitter at @thecoastguard.