A popular celebration of seafood returns to Weymouth this weekend.

Dorset Seafood Festival is this year offering what is said to be the largest seafood menu in the country - more than 60 seafood dishes.

It takes place on Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11 at the Weymouth Peninsula.

Festival organisers have brought together some of the country’s top chefs and seafood producers.

Attendees will find a free kid’s cookery school, live chef demos, delicious seafood, wine tastings, beer pairings and live music.

Stuart Cooper, director, said: “SEAFEAST is a one of a kind Seafood Festival. The menus have started rolling in and to give you a taste of what’s to come, we will have crab fries, sardines, squid, lobster, monkfish curry, hand-dived scallops, oysters, mussels, mackerel tacos, fishcakes, kedgeree eggs, seafood biryani, paella, crab pasties, and much more.

"The atmosphere, exciting chef demos, delicious seafood, live music and entertainment for the kids makes it the perfect day out.”

The event will raise funds for The Fishermen’s Mission, and help to raise awareness of ocean health. The festival is once again working closely with Blue Marine Foundation, a global marine conservation charity working to promote marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries.

Making a return is the Blue Seas marquee, which will be full of props and fishing equipment and will demonstrate how we can eat seafood sustainably.

Fishermen’s Mission Welfare officers will be based in the Fish Mish Zone and will give a talk on the charity on the Bay Stage. The festival has raised more than £80,000 for the Fishermen's Mission and is a cause close to the festival’s heart.

New to the festival this year will be The Outcasts’, a feature focusing on unusual looking fish and seafood, especially monkfish and gurnard.

The Harbour Stage, hosted by River Cottage's Steven Lamb, will be home to a number of chef demos. Taking to the stage will be: Mitch Tonks, who opened his seafood restaurant, Rockfish in Weymouth a few years ago, will be joined on stage by Mark Hix, celebrated chef, Lyme Regis restaurateur and food writer, Nigel Bloxham from the award-winning The Crab House Café, Mike Naidoo of Catch at the Old Fish Market, Harriet Mansell of Robin Wylde in Lyme Regis and she also appeared in Great British Menu in 2020 and Susy Atkins, award-winning drinks columnist for The Sunday Telegraph and Stella magazine.

Live music at the festival will come from The Leggomen, Nina Garcia, sea shanties from the Dorset Wrecks and plenty more to tap your foot to!

The fish auction, hosted by Duncan Lucas, will give people a chance to bid on some delicious local catches as well as some uniquely commissioned jeroboams of Miraval Rosé with all monies raised going to the Fishermen’s Mission.

Tickets can be pre-booked and cost £10 for adults on Saturday (festival open 10am to 6.30pm) and £7 for adults on Sunday (festival open 10.30am to 5pm). Children under 16 are free of charge. Book at www.dorsetseafood.co.uk/book/