“The Portsmouth Seafood Festival will be a family event celebrating and promoting Portsmouth’s historic links with the sea and seafishing.”
The host venue Gunwharf Quays is a premium retail & marina destination whose past and history is deeply rooted in the Royal Navy and Portsmouth’s sea fearing past. Having undergone extensive re development over a 6 year period, it is now home to the iconic Spinnaker Tower which defines Portsmouth skyline and hosts a broad range of premium stores and eateries.
Portsmouth Fish Market and its vibrant working Quayside is in close proximity to Gunwharf Quays and where fishing boats land their catch daily, which is then prepared and sold to local, national and international markets. This is the perfect setting to showcase the industry and the fishing community.
The festival aims are to educate, inform, raise awareness and promote seafood to adults and children in a relaxing and vibrant setting. With demonstrations from local & high profile Chefs, Seafood preparation from catch to plate from the prestigious Billingsgate Seafood School, Seafood prepared and cooked with influences and interpretations from around the globe in what will be a perfect setting.
The festival theme explores the journey our seafood takes from ‘Sea to Plate’ and provides visitors with an enriching experience that is not only entertaining, but imparts a better understanding of the sea, the fishermen and the difficulties they face, the coast and the issues of sustainable fishing and environmental impact.
Charities and industry partners will be on hand to promote and showcase the extensive work and support they provide to the Sea Fishing and marine community and will obviously be recipients of the charity fundraising.
Billingsgate Seafood School
Food Theatre Stage
The Food Theatre Stage will be hosted by CJ Jackson – Chef, Cookery Writer, CEO, Principal of The Seafood School @ Billingsgate Fish Market London
Pop Up Fish Market
Seafood Market
Visit the Pop Up Fish Market with the Portsmouth hosts – Vivier’s UK Ltd / Portsmouth Fish Market. .
Cornelius Veakins
Alfresco Stage
The Alfresco Stage will be hosted by Cornelius Veakins, master outdoor BBQ chef, working with Flame Fire Smoke & Grill.
Speak With The Experts
Interactive Zone
Visit THE interactive zone, meet fishermen, industry experts, get up close to seafood, discuss issues & topics associated with the local Sea Fishing community.
Wine Expert Erica Dent
Food Theatre Stage
Grow your knowledge of wine with our wine expert Erica Dent from Enjoy Discovering Wine.
Discover Seafish
Interactive Zone
families can enjoy the Interactive Zone where children will be able to see and touch fish, meet local fisherman and get up close to a fishing boat and the equipment used by the fishermen every day.
Live Music
Around The Plaza
Jazz, folk and acoustic music performed around the Plaza will add a real festival feel to the weekend.
Dressed With Nautical Style
Around The Plaza
Event Curator Neil Williams from Bureau of Change in Southsea will be dressing the Plaza with fantastic nautical elements.
Founding partners are: Eric McLeod, John Pryde, Paul Gonella and Tristan Savage.