Tens of thousands of people will be flocking to Weymouth harbourside this weekend as the Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival comes to town.

Now in its 11th year, the festival is the UK’s largest free to attend seafood festival, and is predicted to attract more than 50,000 people from across the country.

Punters can expect a whole host of fishy treats, chef demonstrations, themed activities and fun for all the family as almost 100 pop-up stalls and bars once again line Weymouth’s historic harbourside.

Motorists are advised that roads around the harbourside will be closed to traffic including Custom House Quay, Town Bridge, Trinity Road and North Quay.

Festival chairman Roger Dalton, said this year’s festival would be bigger than ever – and including as many local businesses as possible.

“This year’s festival is very much about working with local businesses. For the first time in eleven years we have our very own fish market, Weyfish on board who will be supplying a lot of the fish for the demonstrations among other things. We’ve always wanted our own fish market engaged so we are absolutely thrilled about that.”

He added the festival had expanded beyond the harbourside this year to include more businesses such as the Nothe Tavern, which will be hosting top chef Chris Wheeler during the weekend.

Mr Dalton said another big focus of this year’s festival was sustainability.

“We are reacting to growing concerns of the amount of plastic in the sea. We’ve asked pubs and stall holders to use recyclable plastic cups and Dorset Waste Partnership has agreed to put up special recycling zones to reduce waste,” he said.

Festival highlights will include ‘how to’ sessions, cookery demonstrations from Dorset’s finest chefs, live music, magic shows and even the chance to win a family holiday when you take part in the ‘seafood trail’.

Mr Dalton added there would also be more children’s activities including net weaving, knot tying, lobster pot making and a crabbing competition.

The free to attend festival will take place this Saturday and Sunday, raising money for the Fishermen’s Mission, which provides emergency support alongside practical and emotional care for both active and retired fishermen and their families.

Alongside the title sponsor, Pommery Champagne, other festival sponsors this year include Seafish, Volvo Cars Poole, Weird Fish, Dream Cottages and Hall and Woodhouse.

During the festival, Hall and Woodhouse will host the Badger Beer Marquee outside the Ship Inn.

For beer connoisseurs, Mark Woodhouse, chairman of Hall and Woodhouse, and Toby Heasman, head brewer, will be holding two beer and food pairing workshops.

Tickets will be available to purchase on the day at £5 per person from the Ship Inn.

The Ship Inn will be laying on entertainment in its courtyard with bands and a daily magic show at 3.30pm.

Anthony Woodhouse, Managing Director of Hall and Woodhouse, said: “We are delighted to continue our support of the UK’s largest seafood festival which celebrates Dorset’s historic links with the sea and supports the fishing communities based at Weymouth Harbour.

“The festival champions local produce, which is something we, as local producers, are passionate about.”

For more information visit www.dorsetseafood.co.uk