A beautiful Dorset seaside resort has been given a boost as a popular festival recently scrapped has been resurrected.
Weymouth is famous for its beautiful sandy beach overlooked by a magnificent Georgian seafront.
But recently the stunning coastal town was dealt a number of blows with its popular seafood festival – Seafeast which is now known as Dorset Seafood Festival – being scrapped due to rising costs and staffing pressure.
Shortly after, two restaurants on the pretty seafront also announced their closure due to the “seasonal” nature of the business.
However the festival has announced that it’s been given a last minute reprieve after local businesses, passionate supporters and a PR firm banded together to keep it going after its director had stepped away.
Sean Cooper, owner of Weyfish, the town’s harbourside fishmonger, and among those taking on responsibility for the event, said: “When we learned the festival was in doubt, phones buzzed, conversations started, and everyone agreed we simply had to act.
“The festival is a very special platform for our spectacular local seafood, as well as the many growers and producers that make Dorset such a fantastic food and drink lovers’ destination. It really puts us on the map.
“Importantly also, it’s a celebration of sustainability. The Weymouth fishing fleet is the archetype of sustainable fishing. Small, inshore day boats, using nets, pots and lines, catching enough to meet demand, with little or no waste. This town is an example for coastal communities nationwide.”
New festival director Pippa Gibb said: “We are already in conversation with many of the event’s committed sponsors, exhibitors and supporters and we’re discussing how to ensure the 2024 festival achieves everything last year’s event did for the town – plus more.”
The festival – now in its 16th year – is recognised as one of the country’s landmark food and drink events. It attracts more than 10,000 visitors to Weymouth, showcasing the town and a host of artisan Dorset businesses.
According to an independent report, the festival generated as much as £3m for the local community in 2022.
Over the years the festival has also raised more than £90,000 for the Fishermen’s Mission, becoming the charity’s largest annual event contributor.
The Dorset Seafood Festival will be held on September 7 – 8 on the Weymouth Peninsula.
Tickets for this year’s event will be available soon and more information can be found at www.dorsetseafood.co.uk.
