Europe’s biggest seafood festival is just a few months away. Here’s what to expect from the award-winning festival taking place in Weymouth in July
The Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival is taking place 14-15 July around Weymouth’s picturesque harbour and attracts over 50,000 people from across the country each year. The festival raises funds for the Fishermen’s Mission - the vital port of call for fishermen and their families.
Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival offers so much more than food and drink, with organisers working hard to enrich the visitor experience exploring the seafood journey. Sustainability has never been more in the public eye and the festival are amping up their sustainability message and expectations from stall holders.
The line up for this year’s festival includes…
‘Louise and Lobster’ sit beside the harbour and enjoy a glass of Cuvée Louise Champagne served with a locally-sourced BBQ lobster half.
Badger Sett
This year, you can Learn more about Dorset’s favourite beers in these delicious tasting sessions. Expert tutorials, tastings and food pairing with Hall & Woodhouse experts Mark Woodhouse, Chairman and Toby Heasman, Head Brewer. At the Ship inn, Custom House Quay. Only £5 person
Saturday 14th July
Morning Session: 11.30am Toby Heasman - Head Brewer
Afternoon Session: 14.30pm Toby Heasman - Head Brewer
Sunday 15th July
Morning Session: 11.30am Mark Woodhouse - Chairman
Afternoon Session: 14.30pm Mark Woodhouse - Chairman
PLUS
Fishy Magic with the Great Baldini at 3.30 pm daily in The Ship pub garden
Dream Dorset Trail
Put your thinking caps on and your best foot forward to explore this free family friendly trail. Search for clues high and low along old harbour, and up and around the beautiful Nothe Gardens. Meet the Nothe mice, play traditional games at the stone pier and keep an eye out for questions to complete your trail. With an incredible family holiday to be won at one of Dream Cottages 5* Weymouth properties and fun activities to see and do along the way, the Dream Dorset Trail is the perfect family addition to the Seafood Festival.
- The trail will run from 10am-4pm Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July
- Maps will be provided by Dream Cottages for free
- The first 500 children per day will win an artisan edible medal
- You must complete the trail questions to be in with a chance of winning.
Family Activity Area - The Fishermen’s Mission will be curating a family workshop – free for all the family! With knot tying, basket weaving and lobster pot making for all the family to get stuck in with. Materials are provided, and helpers are on hand to aid with the creative flow!
A family favourite returning in 2018 is the Crabbing Competition with Weymouth Angling. Last year, prizes were awarded for the most crabs caught, the biggest crabs, the smallest and crabs with the most barnacles!
Bella Ceramics makes its festival debut this year - hot on the fishtail of 2018’s trend in pottery making. Jo & George will provide the following children’s activities over the Festival weekend
Slime Making
Mermaid slime or oyster snot slime! (using biodegradable glitter)
£2.50 per pot
Throw a Pot
On a potter’s wheel using air dry clay, to take home and paint with your own acrylics or poster paint. Session lasts around 5-10 mins, hands on teaching by George.
£5.00 per person.
Paint a Rock for the new craze of ‘Rocking’
Kids or adults paint and seal their own rock. (responsibly sourced, not off the beach). Upload a photo and add a message to Weymouth or Dorset rocks. £1.00 per rock. All rocking proceeds go to Fishermen’s Mission
Free Colouring
Using crayons, colour in a hand drawn (by Jo) Weymouth landmark. Choose from the Jubilee Clock, Punch & Judy, Harbour View or Beach/Seagull Scene.
Bring your best singing voice – the festival welcomes back old favourites, the shanty band plus an exciting performance from Dorset Rock Choir.
Pavillion Demo Stage
A great way to not only learn about but taste some award winning Pommery Champagnes with the fun and expert guidance of UK Director, Sara Hicks, and the Telegraph and Delicious Magazine’s Wine expert Susy Atkins. Confirmed chefs so far include; Sophie Michell, Neil Rankin, Ed Baines, the much loved Duncan Lucas, CJ Jackson from Billingsgate and Pete Murt from Rick Steins.
The Seafish marquee
Seafish’s mission is to support a profitable, sustainable and socially responsible future for the seafood industry. Seafish is running their campaign, ‘Fish 2 a week’, focusing on the health benefits of eating two portions of seafood a week. Watch BBQ champions Ben Bartlett and Simon Dyer in action along with some of Dorset’s finest chefs; Matt Budden, Nigel Bloxham & Russell Brown all showcasing their skills in the kitchen.
Sophie Michell returns to the festival, but this time as Pommery Champagne’s chef ambassador. Sophie will be on stage and cooking some incredible seafood.
For full information and the official schedule, please visit: www.dorsetseafood.co.uk/
Don’t miss our line up of the best festivals taking place in Dorset this month. Click here to read more.
