IT’S all change for one of Dorset’s most popular festivals.

Roger Dalton, who was one half of the team that created the Seafood Festival in Weymouth in 2008 is stepping down. And Pommery Champagne, which has supported the event since 2010 has also announced the partnership is drawing to a close.

The event, which takes place in July, sees thousands of people flock to Weymouth harbourside to enjoy the best of seafood fare.

Brian Cooper, who co-founded the event, will be taking over as chairman in the coming weeks.

He said: “2019 is an exciting year of development for the Dorset Seafood Festival, with our teams in conversations with exciting new brands, stallholders and content providers. Our link with the Fishermen’s Mission remains as strong as ever: the Festival will continue to raise funds for this important charity. I would personally like to thank Roger for his great leadership over the past eleven years, and Champagne Pommery for its huge level of support. Both have played a huge role in making the Festival one of Dorset’s most successful events – we look forward to continued success in the future.”

Mr Dalton said that it had been a ‘great privilege’ to chair the event for the last 11 years.

He added: “It has been a joy and honour to work on this event and I would like to thank all those who have been involved over the years.”

Nicholas Hyde, chairman of Pommery UK, said: We have thoroughly enjoyed our time with the Festival and will watch with interest as it takes its next step in 2019. We would like to thank all members of the Dorset Seafood Festival organisational committee and wish them luck for the future. ”

In 2010, a report by Bournemouth University assessed the financial benefit to Weymouth from the event was worth more than £1.5m. Since then visitor numbers have more than doubled, with organisers welcoming more than 50,000 people from all over the country across the weekend.

The event has also been recognised by a number of tourism awards.