“A scoop of beer ice cream with your bratwurst, Madam?” You may recoil at the notion – lager-flavoured cones are, after all, an acquired taste.

But this sort of curious delicacy is exactly what will be served up at the much-anticipated second instalment of the Sausage and Ale Trail this weekend.

When it comes to thinking outside the box and conjuring an entire banquet of sausage and beer-themed treats Old Town’s delis, restaurants and cafes are of the ‘Go big or go home’ school of thought.

Following a successful if overwhelming first run, they have upped the culinary stakes with a cracking menu of cider-infused concoctions, every variety of banger under the sun (even the raw vegetarian kind) and an assortment of indulgent baps.

So, whatever your poison, prepare for a feast of epic proportions. Extra stretch elasticated waistbands may not go amiss as you scoff your way through the rows of stalls lining up Wood Street and Devizes Road on Sunday.

“We wanted to grow the Sausage and Ale Trail this year,” said Jan Wojtowicz, vice chairman of the Old Town Business Association, which runs the festival.

“There were about 12 stalls on Wood Street plus the pubs and restaurant around Old Town and this time we’ve got another four stalls selling food. There is more variety and more live cooking.

“This year everybody is trying different things: they are thinking outside the box. Places like Eggelicious are actually doing a special festival menu. A lot of places are trying new things that you can’t normally have there. Everybody is getting excited.”

If last year’s sausage extravaganza is anything to go by, the new and improved 2015 edition is expected to draw in thousands of Swindon’s foodies. And this time around restaurateurs and publicans are braced for the onslaught.

The unexpected deluge of gourmets queuing up for a pint and morsel left many stallholders stumped last year with many cleaned out by eager trail hounds just two hours in.

As one of the masterminds behind the festival, it fell to Jan’s lot to hotfoot it around Old Town to replenish pubs’ dwindling stocks. Thanks to his quick thinking and ability to source fresh buns at the drop of a hat, The Pig On the Hill averted catastrophe.

“It was absolutely packed and it took people by surprise,” adds Jan, who owns Wood Street Wellbeing. “It started at 1pm and by 3pm most people had sold out of food.”

“Everything was sold out and I didn’t have a single sausage last year,” he confesses with a laugh. “Hopefully I will get a taste this time.”

Among the treats in store are beer ice cream and cider sorbet from Rays served in the Arts Centre courtyard, chilli dogs from the Chilli Shak and a selection of meaty Moroccan tapas courtesy of Fez.

El Toro will offer a range of Spanish and South American staples including Paella, Choripan – a chorizo sausage roll slathered in chimichurri sauce - and Cubanos, filled with pork, cheese and pickle.

The Pantry will stick to its Polish influences with Bigos Sauerkraut, stuffed with Polish sausage and served with mash potatoes. Again this year Balula’s will sell its popular spicy chorizo and aioli rolls.

Eggelicious will introduce three new stuffed flatbread recipes, salami, mozzarella and potato, lamb paratha, and spinach, potato and mozzarella, all for £5. The vegetarian option will include a free drink.

The festival will mark a year since the deli opened its doors to the public on Wood Street. Last September, queues went as far back as the High Street for a taste of Eggelicious’s fare.

“We invent so many recipes all the time, it’s a good way for us to trial them,” said owner Ash Mistry. “We just love to come up with new ideas and create new concepts. We are always looking to do different things, fun things.

“I think events like these bring the community together.”

This time around, Wilson’s Family Butcher will throw caution to wind, opting for a flaming barbecue instead of cold homemade pies. The Sausage and Ale Trail will be the opportunity for the shop to showcase its award-winning sage and red onion banger.

“We stayed away from the hot food last year but this time we’re going to be more adventurous,” says owner Martin Wilson. “We will have a barbecue on Wood Street with our prize-winning sausages and proper freshly-baked rolls. Last year we were just waving the flag. A lot of people don’t know we are up here. We will go for unusual flavours but traditional sausages. Everything sold out by 3pm last year so we will aim to double the amount of food this year and see what happens.”

Sticking to its winning formula, The Hop Inn will serve hot dogs in the Arts Centre courtyard as well as a special golden ale at £3 a pint, alongside its regular selection of speciality brews.

“It was so busy last year – it was relentless all day, in a good way,” adds manager Jack Arnold. “But we were overwhelmed and we ran out very quickly. I was actually not supposed to be working that day but I ended up pulling a seven-hour shift. This year we will definitely have more ready. The weather will be a key factor but we expect it to be very busy.”

GlamoRose Cakes will provide a sweet release from this savoury feast with trays of creamy cupcakes.

More than just sampling is in store for guests with live music, glitter tattoos, face painting, and children’s activities, including an art workshop, run by Caroline Day.

If the Trail proves the triumph it has been tipped to be, Jan and the Old Town Business Association have ambitious plans for the event.

“Eventually we want to turn it into a really big festival and close off the top of Victoria Road. But we want to grow it gradually,” he adds humbly.

For now, however, his thoughts are on a more immediate concern: the weather.

“We are hoping for nice weather. But even if the weather is not brilliant, there will be enough for people to do and all the stalls are under cover. But we are always nervous until the sunshine comes out.”

The event on Sunday will run from noon until 5pm.