A RENOWNED Abergavenny hat designer is throwing a Mad Hatters Tea Party for visitors to next month’s food festival.

Celebrity milliner Alison Tod, whose hats have been worn by supermodel Erin O’Connor and actress Kristen Scott-Thomas, is combining food with her passion for designing hats to hold the tea party at the annual event.

Ms Tod, whose clients travel from as far afield as Paris and London, will offer visitors champagne, tea and cupcakes at her new premises during the two-day festival.

"Creative foodies and locals are welcome to explore our new premises which will give us more room to showcase what we offer, from hats to accessories such as jewellery, handbags and shrugs," explained Ms Tod.

Artistic director at Alison Tod Couture Millinery, Emma Parsons, said: "The food festival has become an upmarket destination and we wanted to combine the food theme with what we offer."

The tea party will be held at the new studio, near the War Memorial on Frogmore Street, on September 18-19 between 10am and 4pm.