A DORSET brewery will be taking centre stage at the Dorset Seafood Festival.

The seventh annual Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival will take place on July 12-13, and joining title sponsor Pommery Champagne will be Dorset’s Piddle Brewery.

The Piddlehinton-based brewery will be the official beer and bar sponsor at the event on Weymouth Harbourside.

Piddle Brewery confirmed its support as part of the company’s campaign to gain national recognition for its growing brand.

Other confirmed sponsors for the event include Lloyds Bank.

Last year around 50,000 people packed the streets and the harbourside in the sunshine to see more than 90 stands, enjoy the champagne and seafood and watch demonstrations from top chefs.

The 2013 event raised £7,973 for its charity partner The Fishermen’s Mission and the charity will again be the beneficiary of this year’s event.

Piddle Brewery, which won a Taste of Dorset Award in 2009, will be encouraging visitors to the Seafood Festival to visit their themed area, which will be offering a range of beers, including those with names like Jimmy, Piddle, Cocky Slasher and No 1.

Rob Martin, managing director of the brewery, said: “The vibrant Seafood Festival is a perfect match for Dorset’s funkiest brewers. “Love Seafood – love a good Piddle.”

Plans are already underway for the 2014 event with organisers promising an event that will have ‘something for everyone.’ There will be interactive demonstrations from a line-up of top chefs including Dorset’s own.

Pommery Champagne will be giving pouring demonstrations and there will be expert wine matching and filleting demonstrations by Duncan and Sue Lucas from Passionate about Fish. Festival Chairman, Roger Dalton said: “It’s great to have the growing Dorset brand of Piddle Brewery behind the event in 2014. “We have worked hard to attract a major sponsorship deal with a Dorset brewery – and long may our association continue.”

For more information visit www.dorsetseafood.co.uk