IT'S the only plaice to be this summer- the popular annual Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival is returning with two major additions this year.

The festival, which will be during the weekend of July 11 and 12, will see more than 100 stalls pitch up on Weymouth harbourside to offer the best in seafood culinary delights.

The Dorset Echo is one of the main media partners for the event, which will see thousands of people descend on the harbourside.

It is the eighth year in a row the festival will be held in Weymouth and this year will also see two new additions.

There will be a Jurassic 360 degree “How To" zone, encouraging members of the public to handle, prepare and barbecue seafood caught in the waters off Dorset.

For those who want to sit back and relax during the festival, renowned west Dorset restaurant Hive Beach Cafe will also host a pop-up restaurant and will serve shellfish to customers.

Organisers have also announced a new iPhone app will be launched to help visitors plan their weekend, and that the Fishermen’s Mission charity, which provides emergency support and care to the families of fishermen in the event of tragedies, will be this year’s nominated charity.

Brian Cooper, Dorset Seafood director, said: “We are delighted the Dorset Echo will once again be one of the main media partners of the Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival.

“We are very appreciative of its coverage and the awareness that it delivers for this award-winning event.

"Whilst enjoyment is at the heart of the event we are also committed to raising much needed funds for our chosen charity, The Fishermen’s Mission. Last year we were able to raise over £10,000 and the aim is to beat this in 2015.

"In addition to this, we are passionate about supporting our local fishermen and try, where possible, to work with them and use Dorset sourced seafood throughout the Festival.”

Sponsors for this year’s event include Pommery Champagne, Finn Square, Merlin Entertainments, Piddle Brewery, Weird Fish, Dream Cottages and Comax UK.

A host of top chefs and seafood experts will also appear at the festival. Rick Stein’s son, Jack,

Gill Meller and John Wright from River Cottage, The Dining Room’s Taher Jibet, MasterChef winner and chef patron of The Casterbridge in Dorchester Mat Follas, Dorset’s much loved Russell Brown and award winning chef patron, Nigel Bloxham from The Crab House Cafe will all feature at the event.

Diarmuid Macdonagh, acting editor of the Dorset Echo, said: “We are delighted to once again be a media partner for this great event.

“It is fantastic for the town and brings in thousands of tourists so we are more than happy to support the event, and we look forward to this year’s festival being another great success.”

For more information click here.