Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival raises £10,000 for Fishermen’s Mission

05 October 2017

The Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival has presented it’s nominated charity, The Fishermen’s Mission, a cheque for £10,000 at the festival’s 10th year celebration on Wednesday 4th October.  The celebration saw organisers, sponsors and key participants gather to toast the 10th year and present awards to winners of the Sustainability Awards.   

Celebrating 10 years, the Festival took place over the weekend of 8th and 9th July and attracted over 70,000 people. This year’s festival had an ambitious programme of events that saw stall-holders providing mouth-watering selections of fish dishes, a demo kitchen and social kitchen from Fisher & Paykel, a Seafish demo stage, HMS Severn docking in the harbour, crowds entertained by Kermiz le cirque du platzak and ‘rock the boat’, and the first ever live and interactive ‘talking shop’ with top TV personalities – Fishy Tales. 

Sara Hick, UK Commercial Director of Champagne Pommery commented: “We are delighted to be the headline sponsor of this exceptional Festival, the 10th year really was incredibly special. The sustainability message is such an important one and therefore it is fantastic to honour those striving so hard.  To see such a great amount of money raised for The Fishermen’s Mission is tremendous as they are the vital port of call for Fishermen and their families.” 

Money was raised for The Fishermen’s Mission from the tours on HMS Severn, festival raffle tickets sales, ‘Albert the Fisherman Merchandise’ and with help from the stand holders and demonstration collections.

Nick O’Neil, Mission Area Officer for the Fishermen’s Mission commented: “We cannot thank the Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival enough for their continued support. This year’s 10th anniversary event was the biggest festival to date with so many new elements. Welcoming HMS Severn was the real cherry on the cake and the crew were also so instrumental in providing thrilling tours and raising further funds for The Fishermen’s Mission.”

Now in their third year, the Sustainability Awards continue to reward exhibitors who use regional and responsibly-sourced seafood in line with the Festival’s ethos of educating the public to eat local seafood and therefore support local fishermen.

Judges this year included ‘passionate about sustainability’ top Chef, Matt Budden, and the UK’s Project Director from Blue Marine Foundation, Tim Glover.

Sustainability Award winners:

The Pickled Pig – Gold

Dorset Shellfish – Silver

From Shore to Door – Bronze

The Crab House – Highly Commended

Golden Scallops - Highly Commended

Catch - Highly Commended

Joanne Haze, owner The Pickled Pig commented: "Being at the festival in the summer and receiving gold in the sustainability awards has propelled our business. We took three wedding bookings over the festival weekend and so many enquiries. We are over the moon".

For more information, visit www.dorsetseafood.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @dorsetseafood or Facebook Dorset Seafood Festival.   

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SEAFEAST - The Dorset Seafood Festival raises funds for the Fishermen's Mission - the vital port of call for fishermen and their families.
Fishermen's Mission