Enter our competition to win a gourmet five course meal in stylish settings – for free. Don’t let a bit of microbiology put you off.

The squeamish among you, hear me out – picky eaters, too. Ignore the microbes bit for a minute; let’s start instead with the words ‘a five course gourmet meal at Harvey Nichols’, add in an award-winning writer and chef and put the event under the umbrella of Manchester Science Festival, one of the city’s best cultural happenings annually. Interested? Ok, good: now we can talk about what actually makes A Meal Made by Microbes on 29 October unusual and, we think, unmissable.

The squeamish among you, hear me out – picky eaters, too. Ignore the microbes bit for a minute

The menu, devised by professional chef Richard Fox in collaboration with microbiologists from Manchester Museum, is made up of food created using bacteria, fungi and yeast. Now before you balk, remember that bread is made from yeast, mushrooms and truffles are both fungi and yoghurts and cheeses are made using bacteria. So why turn away the chance to have them served up gourmet-style in one of the city’s swishest restaurants, as well as being treated to demonstrations and discussions by an expert microbiologist host at your table, plus taking a keepsake from the meal home at the end of the night?

Especially when you could be there for free. Tickets to the meal are usually £40 a pop, but we’re giving away a pair to one lucky winner – all you have to do is enter your details into the form below to be in with a chance of winning. A Meal Made by Microbes takes place at Harvey Nichols Manchester on Thursday 29 October from 7pm – and it’s worth noting that although there will be a vegetarian option on the night, the team can’t cater to nut, dairy and gluten intolerances. The competition closes at 10am on Thursday 22 October. Good luck!

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED.

Terms and Conditions: The winner will be the first correct entry selected at random from all correct entries received. No purchase necessary. No cash alternative given. Employees of Creative Tourist, Manchester Science Festival or associated companies are not eligible to enter. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners will be notified as soon as possible after the closing date. Only one entry per person. We apologise for the fact we are unable to post prizes outside of the UK. Entrants will automatically be added to the Creative Tourist mailing list – don’t worry, we never share data and we promise not to bombard you with endless emails. The offer is a pair of tickets for one winner to the Meal Made by Microbes at Harvey Nichols Manchester on Thursday 29 October from 7pm onwards. Closing date: 10am, Thursday 22 October.