Angling for a good day out? Come to the Sea2Shore Food Festival on the Prom in Aberystwyth on Saturday 13 August at 10am – 4pm.
From small beginnings in 2011, drawing 1,500 visitors to Aberystwyth’s promenade, the festival has grown into a major food event with an extensive offer of local food, exhibitions and displays, family activities – there’s plenty to see and do. This year Charlie Thompson, head chef from the Belle Vue Royal Hotel will cook some of their famous SY23 dishes using the best of the world class produce produced and grown on the doorstep and fished from the bay.
The Ceredigion coast has golden sands, award winning beaches, cliffs, coves and caves, tiny ports and harbours and a rollicking sea faring history. Cardigan Bay boasts two Special Areas of Conservation and work goes on to protect important marine species and habitats. These havens for wildlife can be enjoyed with a wildlife spotting boat trip.
Small towns and ports in Ceredigion such as Cardigan, New Quay and Aberaeron are rich with maritime histories and today the harbours feature mainly fishing or leisure boats but in earlier centuries these were key to the local economy. In 1900 there were still 213 ships registered in Aberystwyth harbour employing some 900 seamen and boys. Ships from Aberystwyth regularly travelled the high seas across the globe, or plied their trades along the Welsh coast and Cornwall where they traded slate for tin and lime. Today Aberystwyth is host to many events but none more fitting than the annual Sea2Shore Food Festival, which celebrates local seafood, produce and its local fishing industry.
The idea to hold the first Sea2Shore festival came about following a need to raise awareness of the fishing industry in Cardigan Bay, where there is an abundance of sustainable fish and shellfish available. Four organisations, namely Aberystwyth Sea Anglers, Cardigan Bay Fisherman’s Association, Communities First and Food Centre Wales initiated and shaped what is now a very successful and popular annual event.
This year the Cardigan Bay Fisherman’s Association will be on hand to enlighten the public about sustainable fishing in West Wales and the need to protect the future of a healthy fishery. Huw Evans from CBFA said: “The Sea2Shore Food Festival is an invaluable opportunity to showcase what is best about the natural resources that come out of the clean waters of Cardigan Bay. Sustainable fishing will ensure that there will be beautiful fish to be caught in Cardigan Bay for future generations to enjoy.”
Other organisations such as the RNLI, Aberystwyth Beach Buddies, Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, RSPB and St John’s Ambulance (and more) will also be present on the promenade.
So why not head to Aberystwyth to try delicious local produce at the farmers’ market, watch cooking demonstrations, go-karting, learn about the area’s fishing industry and even try your hand at angling!
This year’s Sea2Shore Food Festival is supported by Aberystwyth Town Council, facilitated by Ceredigion County Council through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
The festival will be held on the Promenade, Aberystwyth on Saturday, 13th August from 10am – 4pm. Free entry. Tel: 01545 574162 / 07583 847206
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