The 2024 Lymington Seafood Festival has been given a huge foodie shake-up; the three-day boutique festival taking place at Bath Road Park on Friday 12th – Sunday 14th July, is bringing back a Chefs’ Demo Stage and launching a Cookery School with a range of classes for adults and budding young chefs.
The festival welcomes Chris Bavin, the award-winning writer and food broadcaster to host the Chefs’ Stage and join the fun in the Cookery School. He will be joined by Lime Wood’s Hartnett Holder & Co. Chef Director Luke Holder, one of the most respected and celebrated chefs in the New Forest.
The Cookery School will host twelve classes across the weekend that includes sushi, zingy fish tacos, hoisin mackerel and a cheeky chocolate pudding with secret hidden veg for children.
Adults who fancy testing their Masterchef skills can enjoy Spanish style tapas canapes, Lymington crab with fresh linguine or authentic Paella. All adult classes finish with a drinks tasting with either Hattingley Valley, Solent Cellar or Lymington Gin.
Classes cost £25 for children and £45 for adults. Everyone will receive a Lymington Seafood Festival chefs’ apron, and children will get a finger guard from Flint & Flame plus a certificate to adorn the kitchen fridge.
Lending their support to the festival is Balmer Lawn Hotel who join as a main sponsor and the Chefs Stage with senior sous chef Callum Jellicoe joining the fun with demo’s and delivering two cooking classes.
Set in a rustic country kitchen style, the Chefs’ Stage line-up is packed with some of the most talented local chefs. Including Luke Holder, Lime Wood Hotel, Daniel Rogan, Chef Patron at AO by Daniel Rogan; Callum Jellicoe, Balmer Lawn Hotel; Gavin Barnes, The High Street Kitchen; Matt Tomkinson, Stanwell House; Colin Nash, The Retreat; Martin Dawkins, The Rustic Chef; James Gunn, The Smoking Gunn; Kamil Oseka, The Pig Hote; and Steve Hall, Noisy Lobster.
Organisers are also delighted to welcome Hayley Elston from the Fabulous Catch Co. who, for those tuning into Aldi’s Next Big Thing will know the Calshot-based business has been catapulted into supermarket stardom with their incredible range of fishy delicacies. Hayley will be on stage with Chris Bavin, co-presenter of the Channel 4 Series.
The festival also welcomes some new exciting street food stalls heading to Lymington in July with Woosabi bringing a taste of Japan and going ‘loco’ is Cintias with their Brazilian cuisine. Foodies can graze around 75 stands that includes Bao buns, crepes, surf n turf, teriyaki prawns, Nordic flammlach salmon, dressed crab, lobsters, oysters, scallops, monkfish and cod cheek tacos to name just a few.
Organisers will continue to commit towards a more sustainable festival with stallholders from the New Forest and local south coast and working with local suppliers to stock stages and kitchens.
Delivering festival vibes, the music stage will still be packed with 14 bands and artists over the three days with a blend of blues, folk, soul, pop with Friday night sees a Fleetwood Mac tribute headline. Taking the stage on Saturday is the 9-piece Fat Cat Soul with the acclaimed Decatonics closing the weekend’s festivities with Ska and reggae.
Every year the festival supports a different local charity so with the RNLI celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea it’s fitting to be raising money for our local lifeboat station.
Tickets are £10 adult and £3 for children aged 6-16yrs. U6’s go free.
For more information and tickets visit www.lymingtonseafoodfestival.co.uk.