Plymouth Seafood Festival

Now in its sixth year, the Plymouth Seafood Festival will be supporting the fishing industry by offering a weekend full of delicious dishes for all the family to enjoy as well as hands-on activities, including children’s cookery fun, where they can touch and taste local produce.

We have many reasons to celebrate our fishing industry; Plymouth was the first in the world to be awarded the Fish2Fork Blue Fish status for its commitment to sourcing sustainable fish.

Plymouth also has the second largest fish market in the UK, where every day the market can receive up to as much as 60 tons of fish. It’s no surprise that we have such variety of fantastic seafood restaurants along the waterfront. The festival is a celebration of this and an opportunity to support our local fishing industry in a weekend of family-fun.

Well known regional chefs from some of the best restaurants in the South West, will be showing off their culinary skills in the special Cookery Theatre. Throughout the weekend visitors can sample the delights of everything from lobster to whelk, as well as learning some new cooking techniques, such as picking crab. Join in the fish auction of the day’s freshly caught catch; all contributions support the Fisherman’s Mission charity.

You will be spoilt for choice with the huge selection of delicious food stalls to enjoy, and the children will love the crabbing competition along the harbour side by the Boat House Café. CATERed will be entertaining the children with hands-on cookery fun and activities, where they can learn about local produce through touch and taste.

We are looking forward to welcoming the festival’s official resident artist, Debby Mason, who will be running a workshop as well as having her beautiful work on display.

New for this year is the second demonstration area at Quay Square, where you can join in workshops, watch demonstrations, learn about what fish are in season from our industry partners Interfish and Plymouth Trawler Agents. And, more importantly, where to purchase the freshest, locally caught seafood. Climb on-board the fishing trawlers and chat to the local fisherman about their fascinating and sometimes forbidding experiences out on the water.

We are excited to see the return of the fantastic Cardboard Boat Race, which will be on Commercial Wharf on Saturday 16 September. Build a boat out of nothing but a few bits of cardboard and some sticky tape, and sail it around a course in Plymouth harbour. The winner is the last one to sink!

Other highlights include the street food area on West Pier and on Sunday 17 September celebrity chef Mitch Tonks will be hosting a Crab Festival at his premium seafood restaurant Rockfish. With live music, entertainment, a stand for pots of crab cocktail, fresh crabmeat to buy and take home and of course a special menu featuring this great local shellfish.

On behalf of the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, the Plymouth City Council events team deliver the Festival, and are delighted to welcome Salcombe Gin as sponsors.