SEAFEAST – The Dorset Seafood Festival – is set to take place over the weekend of 10th & 11th September 2022, at the Weymouth Peninsula. The award-winning Festival, with probably the largest seafood menu in the country (over 60 seafood dishes), is an event with a conscience, promoting responsibly sourced seafood, raising funds for The Fishermen’s Mission, and helping to raise awareness of ocean health.
Festival organisers have brought together some of the country’s top chefs and seafood producers. The Festival is once again working closely with Blue Marine Foundation, a global marine conservation charity working to promote marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries. Attendees will also find a free kid’s cookery school, live chef demos, delicious seafood, wine tastings, beer pairings and live music – find out what SEAFEAST has in store for 2022.
Stuart Cooper, Director, commented: “SEAFEAST is a one of a kind Seafood Festival. We have a huge menu of seafood, probably the largest in the country! The menus have started rolling in and to give you a taste of what’s to come, we will have crab fries, sardines, squid, lobster, monkfish curry, hand-dived scallops, oysters, mussels, mackerel tacos, fishcakes, kedgeree eggs, seafood biryani, paella, crab pasties, and much more. The atmosphere, exciting chef demos, delicious seafood, live music and entertainment for the kids makes it the perfect day out.”
SEAFEAST – The Dorset Seafood Festival Key highlights for 2022 include:
The BLUE Seas marquee — Making a return is ‘BLUE Seas’. With the spotlight often on our beautiful coast, it is hard to always understand how we can eat seafood sustainably. Blue Marine Foundation is a global marine conservation charity working to promote marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries. The BLUE Seas Marquee will be a hub for people to drop in and find out more about sustainable fishing practices. With thanks to Weyfish Boat Company providing the props and fishing equipment.
School of Fish – FREE Kids Cookery Workshop — For your budding little chefs, be sure to enrol them in the children’s cookery workshop where (depending on age), participants will learn how to prepare anything from mussels to mackerel – dishes to be confirmed.
The ‘School of Fish’ pop-up cookery workshop is brought to the Festival by The Food Teachers’ Centre and supported by the Fishmongers’ Company and their Fisheries Charitable Trust. The ‘School of Fish’ is available FREE to pre-book for children attending the Festival with their parents – booking details can be found below.
The Fish Mish Zone – Head to the Fish Mish Zone and meet some of the Fishermen’s Mission Welfare officers. Join the team at the Bay Stage for a talk about the charity and hear about the incredible work that they do. The Dorset Seafood Festival has raised over £80k for the Fishermen’s Mission and is a cause close to the Festival’s heart.
The Harbour Stage – hosted by curing & smoking expert, award-winning author and presenter Steven Lamb, who joined River Cottage some 20 years ago and has become an integral part of their famous cookery school. Chef demos include:
Mitch Tonks, who opened his seafood restaurant, Rockfish in Weymouth a few years ago, will be joined on stage by Mark Hix, celebrated chef, restaurateur and food writer
Nigel Bloxham from the award-winning The Crab House Café
Mike Naidoo of Catch at the Old Fish Market
Harriet Mansell of Robin Wylde in Lyme Regis and she also appeared in Great British Menu in 2020
Duncan Lucas is the king of filleting
Susy Atkins award-winning drinks columnist for The Sunday Telegraph and Stella magazine hosting a wine tasting session with Miraval Wines & Dorset English sparkling wines, Bride Valley, Furleigh Estate and Langham
The Bay Stage – Compered by Gus Caslake will feature:
Caroline Drever – Caroline heads up the shore side operation of Dorset Shellfish. ,
Mark Woodhouse family Director of Hall & Woodhouse will be hosting a Badger Beer and cheese pairing tutorial
Matt Budden is Executive Head Chef at Schpoons & Forx, part of the Hilton Bournemouth. The Burnt Chef Ambassador
James Burger – Head Chef at Butcombe Brewery in the New Forest. The Burnt Chef Ambassador.
Christian Ørner Private Chef at SALT Cø
Music — Miraval wine a Silver Sponsor of the festival is produced in Provence by Famille Perrin and in association with Hollywood icon, Brad Pitt. Miraval is also home to a legendary recording studio which was founded in 1977 by Jazz pianist Jacques Loussier and saw the likes of Pink Floyd, Sting & AC/DC to name but a few, record there. In honour of this iconic history, ‘Studio by Miraval’ was created and will also be available at the Festival. The festival is excited to enhance its music programme, in honour of Studio by Miraval. Live music will come from The Leggomen, Nina Garcia, Sea Shanties from the Dorset Wrecks and plenty more to tap your foot to!
The Outcasts — New to this year’s SEAFEAST is ‘The Outcasts’, a feature focusing on unusual looking fish and seafood, especially Monkfish and Gurnard. Our Outcasts this year might not be the most pretty of fish, but they’re delicious and hugely underrated when it comes to what we see on menus across the country. SEAFEAST is asking visitors to give these undesirables another chance and be won over by the flavour.
The Fish Auction – The fabulous fish auction is a fun festival favourite! Towards the end of both days the fish auction takes place, hosted by the incredibly entertaining Duncan Lucas. Bid on some delicious local catches as well as some uniquely commissioned jeroboams of Miraval Rosé with all monies raised going to the Fishermen’s Mission. Commercial fishing is one of the UK’s most dangerous occupations. At sea, fishermen and women face death and injury, with an average of 15 fishermen killed or seriously injured every year. The Fishermen’s Mission is a lifeline for many and plays a vital role in fighting poverty and despair in our fishing communities.
The Burnt Chef Project – The Festival is also proud to be highlighting The Burnt Chef Project, a registered non-profit set up with the sole intention of eradicating the mental health stigma within hospitality sectors. Catch Matt Budden and James Burger on stage for some Ready, Steady, Cook action!
The Festival is one of the most celebrated weekends in Weymouth’s event calendar and helps to raise money for The Fishermen’s Mission; the only fishermen’s charity that provides emergency support alongside practical and emotional care.
Tickets are limited, so booking in advance is advisable. Pre-booking prices: Saturday – adult £10. Sunday – adult £7. Children UNDER 16 are free of charge; secure your place at this summer’s seafood extravaganza at www.dorsetseafood.co.uk/book/
SEAFEAST is pleased to confirm Silver sponsors Hall & Woodhouse & Miraval. Bronze sponsors Dream Cottages and South Western Railway, and partners Weyfish.
Once you have booked your adult tickets for the Festival, you can book your free child’s place on the ‘School of Fish’ cookery workshop here: www.dorsetseafood.co.uk/school/
For more information, visit www.dorsetseafood.co.uk or follow on Twitter @dorsetseafood or Facebook Dorset Seafood Festival or on Instagram @dorsetseafoodfest
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