Award-winning Dorset Seafood Festival is making a return to Weymouth Peninsula for another year of celebrations, offering guests the opportunity to eat, discover and learn about the incredible fish and seafood available along our British coastline.
Taking place over two days on the 7 and 8 September 2024, the event promises a spectacular line-up of food, drink and entertainment, from incredible street food vendors to workshops, live cooking demonstrations and more. It's also bringing a brilliant line-up of local chefs and expert speakers to Dorset, with a host of exciting talks and tastings taking place over the weekend. This year, the festival will stay open until 8pm on Saturday so you can stay a little later and enjoy a little sunset with your seafood dinner.
As it does every year, Dorset Seafood Festival also helps to raise money for the Fisherman’s Mission Charity, which has been supporting fisherman across the UK for the last 138 years, and to educate attendees on sustainable fishing, seafood and the coast.
Fancy grabbing tickets to one of the most exciting events in Weymouth’s foodie calendar? Buy tickets here - children under 16 visit for free – or keep scrolling to find out more about what to expect at the festival this year.
Which chefs are attending Dorset Seafood Festival this year?
There are two main demo stages - The Harbour Stage and The Bay Stage – where visitors can watch exciting chef demonstrations and sample some delicious seafood. So, who’s attending the festival this year?
Dorset Seafood Festival has always championed local chefs and this year is no exception. Hear Nigel Bloxham, head chef at The Crab House Café, talk about his Oyster Farm on the Fleet, while Mike Naidoo returns to the festival from Catch at the Old Fish Market, one of the few Michelin-listed restaurants in the area.
Benjamin Palmer, head chef of The Sardine Factory in Looe comes to Dorset Seafood Festival this year, fresh of a raft of achievements including a Michelin Bib Gourmand for his restaurant, and starring appearances on MasterChef: The Professionals and Great British Menu. Not to mention Charlie Jeffreys, who returns back to his native Dorset to lift the lid on what it's like to work as senior chef de partie at three Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester.
![The crowds at SEAFEAST]()
Award-winning drinks columnist for The Sunday Telegraph Susy Atkins returns to host another popular wine tasting session. Dorset-based food writer Philippa Davis is back for another year sharing her knowledge from TV and private cheffing. Duncan Lucas is also back by popular demand with his ever-entertaining 'fish auctions' and demonstrations on fish preparation across both stages.
And let’s not forget Dorset Seafood Festival's fabulous hosts! On The Bay Stage, Gus Caslake (South West Regional Manager of SEAFISH) will be talking all things crab, while on The Harbour Stage, Steven Lamb returns as presenter, a curing and smoking expert, teacher, presenter, culinary consultant and award-winning author.
What else can you expect at Dorset Seafood Festival?
From kids' entertainment to a beer and cheese tasting, there's SO much to see and do at Dorset Seafood Festival in September. Get stuck into these awesome activities.
There’s plenty more to see and do at The Dorset Seafood Festival this year. You can't go wrong simply wandering around its many seafood vans and stores, sampling super fresh seafood and other tasty dishes! There's lots on the menu to get stuck into, including moules mariniere, crabbie samosas, crab pasties, scampi and chips, and grilled lobster with garlic butter.
One of the biggest spaces at Dorset Seafood Festival will be the Louis Pommery England Wine Garden. Pommery returns as a sponsor for this year's festival, stocking the Wine Garden with an endless supply of top-class English Sparkling Wine for you to enjoy in the sun. The ever-popular local brewer Hall & Woodhouse will once again be serving their estimable beers, not least from the Badger Brewery Beer Garden and the beer and cheese pairing masterclass run by Mark Woodhouse. And another festival sponsor, Weyfish, will also be running an oyster and lobster bar in the garden, bringing together one of life's great marriages - sparkling wine and seafood!
There's plenty to do for kids too, including the School of Fish - a unique children's cookery workshop run by Weymouth College. It's the perfect place for budding chefs 16 and under to get started with cooking, with all equipment supplied and guidance from fully trained local chefs. They'll even get to eat what they've made. Plus, there's face painting and an art station to keep the little ones occupied too.
Don't forget about Dorset Seafood Festival's music and entertainment, which includes live performances from a huge range of music acts. Currently the line up includes Barbara Gasior, Carley Varley, The Bridport Broadside Shanty Crew, Finnian McGurk, Finlay Leslie, DJ OJ, Identikit, That Britpop Band, The Leggomen, The Jolly Boys Outing, Under The Carousel and Chief Lazarus.
Keen to get involved? Find out more and buy tickets at Dorset Seafood.