National treasure and ‘Queen of Cakes’ Mary Berry is back this year to open Salcombe’s first ever crab festival on 1 May.

She was a massive hit at the first ever Big Cake Show back in 2014 and she’s back this year to open Salcombe’s first ever crab festival on 1 May. National treasure and ‘Queen of Cakes’ Mary Berry will be talking about her life, favourite recipes and the 2016 series of The Great British Bake Off during a VIP Q&A session on the evening of the opening of the festival.

Salcombe Crabfest 2016 has been set up to celebrate crab and all things seafood from the South Hams and just as importantly to raise money for local charities. It is organised by a passionate team of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Salcombe and is sponsored by two award-winning businesses, Favis of Salcombe and Coast & Country Cottages. Special talks and live cooking demonstrations will be held by renowned chefs and food authors such as Jane Baxter from Wild Artichokes and talented chefs from other local restaurants including The Harbour Hotel, South Sands Hotel, The Ward Room, Winking Prawn and the Fortescue Inn.

Visitors can also enjoy hands-on crab picking tuition from Favis of Salcombe; commercial crab fishing talks; crab pot making; music and wine tasking. There will also be a host of fabulous exhibitors including The Bake House, Susie Watson Designs, The Little Pig Food Company, Salcombe Dairy, Salcombe Holiday Homes and The Oyster Shack, The Nautique Foundation, South Devon and Channel Islands Shell Fisherman and many more, as well as activities to occupy the children courtesy of Coast & Country Cottages.

All monies raised by Salcombe Crabfest will be donated to a number of local charities including the Salcombe Young Centre, who plan to use the money to install a safe weatherproof playing area and carry out essential maintenance.

For more details visit salcombecrabfest.co.uk or follow @SalcCrabfest for the latest news and updates on exhibitors and chef demonstrations.

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