CROWDS returned to a new location on the first day of the much-anticipated Dorset Seafood Festival, which has returned this year showcasing local food, drink, and community talent.
The popular festival, which was cancelled last year due to coronavirus restrictions, is back this weekend and is being held on the Weymouth Peninsula for the first time, having taken place on the harbourside in the past.
Visitors were able to enjoy the sunshine on Saturday whilst wondering around the festival experiencing a range of different food, entertainment and educational talks.
This year is the first time the event has been ticketed and queues to enter the festival were long and snaked back along the Peninsula beside the Pavilion.
Traders inside the seafood festival were busy as people eagerly awaited their seafood fix, and the extensive seating which filled the large space meant customers were able to easily find a place to sit down with their fresh food and drink.
Educational talks were taking place and visitors were able to watch how to prepare crab at the Demonstration Kitchen stage near the entrance. At the Harbour Stage visitors could sit and watch a range of professional chefs and food experts give talks and demonstrations on teh different ways of cooking with seafood.
The Harbour Stage was being hosted by curing and smoking expert, author and presenter Steven Lamb. Joining Steven on stage is Nigel Bloxham chef proprietor of the award-winning Crab House Cafe and Billy Winters, Mike Naidoo of Weymouth’s brand new Catch at the old Fishmarket, John Wright, naturalist and author of all things foraged, Ian Salmon head chef of Rick Stein in Sandbanks, and a double act from Rockfish, Kirk Gosden, group chef director, and Weymouth head chef Marcin.
This year festival organisers are highlighting lobster. To celebrate National Lobster Day, which takes place on September 25, organisers at the Dorset Seafood Festival have made the sea creature the centre of attention at this weekend's extravaganza.
However, not everyone was happy about the seafood festival, with a protester from PETA donning a red bodysuit and some claws to lay on a giant plate on the floor, beside a garnish of 'coriander' and a wedge of 'lemon'.
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