The hugely popular Seafood & Wine Festival is back, showcasing the excellent quality and variety of fish sustainably landed here in Hastings.
Organised by Hastings Borough Council, the event will be held at the Stade Open Space in the heart of Hastings Old Town, over the weekend of 16 and 17 September.
Enjoy delicious fish dishes from local restaurants and wines from local vineyards, along with a range of the best produce the area has to offer. Fantastic locally made beers, ciders, meat and vegetarian dishes will also be available, and the fishermen will be demonstrating their skills and their catch.
The entertainment marquee on the beach will once again be home to a superb musical line up featuring bands. On Saturday the line-up comprises The Dead Rabbits, Jamie Williams Roots Collective, The Will Johns Band, Karis Thompson and the Lost Weekend and The Two Tones. And on Sunday The Strings, Justin and the Argonauts, Stax of Motown and The Big Kahuna.
Local jazz legend Liane Carroll will be returning with her band for the Liane Carroll Jazz Breakfast on Sunday morning, half an hour later this year at 10.30am. Tickets cost £15 for adults and £10 for children are available from the Tourist Information Centre at Aquila House, Breeds Place, Hastings and the ticket includes coffee and a Danish pastry and an entry wristband to the festival for the whole weekend.
The Billingsgate Seafood Training School will be at Classroom on the Coast all day on Saturday. Billingsgate, famous for its London fish market and seafood training school, will be holding cooking demos at 11.30am and 1.30pm, showing you how to make seafood laksa, pot de la mer, steamed fish parcels and pan-fried plaice with autumn mushrooms and wild garlic capers. You’ll get to taste it all at the end, with fresh bread and a delicious wine taster from local vineyard Carr Taylor. Tickets cost £12 each or £22 for two, call 0207 517 3548 to book. There will also be an informal free session at 3.30pm, where you can learn to prepare and cook the day’s catch.
On Sunday, local chefs and producers come to the fore with The Thai House’s Chef Sawek cooking up one of his most popular dishes at 12 noon. At 2pm Biddenden Vineyards, Kent’s oldest commercial vineyard, will be giving a talk and tasting. And at 3.30pm local foraging tutor Sarah Watson of Wild Feast will cook the catch of the day with wild greens and foraged flavourings. Entrance to all three is included with your wristband.
Cllr Kim Forward the council’s deputy leader and lead member marketing and tourism said:
“The Seafood and Wine Festival has been an annual event in the town’s packed calendar for well over ten years now. It’s grown to become a well-respected, popular event attracting thousands of residents and visitors.
“There will be around 40 stalls serving delicious local produce and the famous musical entertainment and cooking demonstrations. This year there is also an exciting sculpture, a cluster of magical glass buoys suspended above head height, which contain the voices and stories of Hastings fishermen. And in the Stade Hall there is an exhibition of photographs by Chris Parker, focusing on the seafood and fishing industry in and around Hastings.
“There’s loads for children in the Children’s Tent, from storytelling performances on Saturday to craft activities and facepainting. And there’ll be unicycling, juggling, magic, balloon animals and much more.”
Entry to the festival is by admission wristband. These can be bought in advance from the Tourist Information Centre for only £2, or on the gate for £3 – a real bargain for a whole weekend’s entertainment. Under 18s go free.
Full festival details and ticket information can be found at www.visit1066country.com/fishfestivals or telephone the Tourist Information Centre on 01424 451111.
