Plymouth’s historic quaysides will come alive on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September for the first ever Plymouth Seafood festival.
Visitors can look forward to two days of mouth-watering food, fun and entertainment putting the spotlight on Plymouth’s thriving fishing industry and locally caught seafood.
The Plymouth Seafood Festival forms a central part of the Plymouth Marine City Festival (September 8 to 16) and has been launched by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, which aims to develop it into an annual event to raise the profile of Plymouth’s Waterfront, attract visitors and boost the local economy.
At the heart of the Plymouth Seafood Festival will be a cookery theatre stage on Commercial Wharf, the Barbican, featuring some of the best chefs in the South West demonstrating their skills using the finest in locally sourced ingredients.
There will also be a quayside market, offering tasty food stalls, and entertainment for all the family to enjoy – including live music, street entertainers and even pirate antics from the popular Jonty Depp (known to some as Captain Jack Sparrow) who will also be amongst the crowd. Dozens of restaurants have also signed up to be part of a nine-day Seafood Trail with some of the best, freshest and more sustainable seafood dishes on offer from Plymouth Waterfront restaurants and cafes.
The impressive line-up on the cookery stage includes Plymouth chefs Chris and James Tanner, Channel 4’s Three Hungry Boys, Master Chef of Great Britain Peter Gorton, plus a who’s who of head chefs from some of Plymouth’s finest Waterfront eateries and City College Plymouth‘s catering faculty. For a full line-up and cookery theatre programme see www.marinecityfestival.co.uk/seafood_festival
There will be plenty for children to do with Plymouth University and the National Marine Aquarium taking science out on to the street with their JustAddH2O Family STEM Festival designed to make the story of seafood and marine science come alive.
Chris Arscott, Chairman of Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, said: “This festival is about creating something that is unique to Plymouth and its Waterfront and which can develop to become a showcase for all that’s best about our city and a driver for increased visitor numbers and economic growth.
“We hope as many people as possible will join in the fun and enjoy celebrating our fantastic Waterfront, the amazing array of locally sourced ingredients on show and the skills of our star chefs.”
Deputy Council leader, Councillor Peter Smith, said: “The festival highlights Plymouth’s fabulous location, environment and marine heritage as well as the vibrant food scene growing up around all the fantastic local produce we have here. It’s great to see so many partners working together to put on this festival which is proving a real treat for local people and a magnet for visitors.”
Sharron Robbie of City College Plymouth, sponsors of the Marine City Festival and present at the Seafood Festival, said: ”Plymouth has a diverse and cosmopolitan food scene, with some of the very best seafood on offer. The College is delighted to be associated with the festival, and students and staff from our hospitality and catering faculty are looking forward to being able to showcase their culinary talents over the weekend.”
The wide-ranging Plymouth Marine City Festival is being organised by Destination Plymouth in partnership with Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, Plymouth University, the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, Plymouth Marine Labs and the Plymouth Culture Board. It is supported by City College Plymouth, Plymouth University, Sharps Brewery and the Sign Shop. It has been bringing together visitor events, business exhibitions and the world leading Oceans of Potential marine science conference on the Hoe, an initiative of Plymouth’s marine science organisations and coordinated by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML).
The aim has been to attract thousands of visitors to Plymouth’s historic quayside areas and to highlight nationally and internationally the city’s standing as a leading European marine city for research, leisure, heritage and food.
The Festival has been taking in a wide range of Waterfront and City Centre sites – including the Barbican, Sutton Harbour, the Hoe, Royal William Yard and Mount Edgcumbe – to create a unique celebration of Plymouth and its links to the sea.
As well as the first Plymouth Seafood Festival, it has included the return of the Ecover Blue Mile, a programme of music and arts throughout the week, an outdoor cinema screen at the Royal William Yard, a colourful parade through the Barbican, a public debate on the future of our seas chaired by BBC broadcaster Monty Halls, and a public lecture by a previous Chief Scientific Advisor of the UK Environment Agency.
About Scott Grenney
Scott is the owner & editor of the BarbicanWaterfront.com. He has lived on the Barbican & keeps close ties with the Plymouth Barbican community and is a member of the Association of Barbican Businesses (ABB).
Scott in his free time is developing the BarbicanWaterfront.com to become a hub / portal for all things related to the Barbican area. The aim is to help increase use of the Barbican by locals and tourists alike. Read more about the Plymouth Barbican Waterfront Website...
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