A popular Weymouth festival is getting a new lease of life as it unveils its new sponsor.

The Dorset Seafood Festival has welcomed English sparkling wine maker Nyetimber as its headline sponsor.

It comes after Pommery Champagne, which supported the event since 2010, announced that the partnership has come to an end.

The festival will mark its 12th year in 2019 and takes place on July 13 and 14. It attracts around 60,000 visitors and, as well as being an opportunity for people to sample fantastic seafood, it also raises money for the Fisherman’s Mission and helps educate people on fishing, seafood and the coast.

Organisers say Nyetimber is a ‘perfect fit’ for the event.

Brian Cooper, festival director said: “What a fantastic brand to welcome on board to the Dorset Seafood Festival for the next three years. Nyetimber is an award-winning English Sparkling Wine producer, the perfect accompaniment for seafood in the sunshine. We’re very excited to champion this English brand and look forward to all that the ‘Nyetimber Dorset Seafood Festival’ will hold in 2019.”

Nyetimber wines have achieved global acclaim, winning international awards and blind tasting competitions, as well as being recognised by some of the world’s most celebrated wine experts.

Eric Heerema, owner and chief executive of Nyetimber added: “We are delighted to become title sponsor of the Nyetimber Dorset Seafood Festival from 2019, celebrating the wide variety of seafood sourced from the waters around Dorset. Nyetimber’s award-winning English sparkling wines are the perfect pairings for a wide range of seafood, and we look forward to partnering with the festival for the next three years.”

An addition to the festival this year will be ‘The Nyetimber’. A beautifully reimagined 1968 Routemaster bus which offers a luxurious, quintessentially British setting from which guests can relax, admire the coastal view, and enjoy a glass of England’s finest sparkling wine.

In addition to the title sponsor news, The Dorset Seafood Festival is also pleased to confirm Hall & Woodhouse, Seafish, Weird Fish and Dream Cottages will be participating once again for 2019.