10^th Newquay Fish Festival, 14-16 September, Newquay Harbour

Now in its 10^th year, the town’s much-loved annual Newquay Fish Festival is back and better than ever, ready to celebrate in style with a whole host of new additions to the entertainment schedule.

From 14-16 September, the town’s picturesque harbour will play host to a wide range of local favourites and staple stalls, in addition to a vast collection of brand new sights and bites to ensure the 10^th festival is the best yet.   

The event programme across the three days is brimming with fishy delights including a large selection of craft and food stalls, sand castle building competitions and music.  Plus there are opportunities to taste delicious, fresh produce straight from the sea, as well as a multitude of cookery demonstrations from some of the best chefs in the region, showcasing all of the fabulous fish and seafood produced from one of the most important ports in the South West. 

The festival will feature a plethora of exciting new additions to the entertainment schedule, as well as a fresh, new layout maximising what’s on offer throughout the weekend. Among the new features will be a ‘new look’ on the harbour including a piazza area  which will host the hospitality marquee providing a larger area for cooking demonstrations as well as entertainment from local music and dance groups, in addition to fishing competitions and Pirate re-enactments.  The inherent tradition and heritage of the harbour will also be brought to the forefront of this year’s festival with a pop up museum courtesy of Newquay Old Cornwall Society detailing the history of Newquay’s iconic Harbour. 

The festival has a famed local reputation for supporting the community and showcasing a variety of Newquay’s outstanding local businesses and this year will be no exception.  Cookery demonstrations will exhibit the finest culinary skills of local chefs from the Headland Hotel, the Atlantic Hotel and the Boathouse Restaurant.

What’s more, this year’s events programme will feature star quality in the form of famed chef Nathan Outlaw making an appearance on the Friday for a cooking demonstration at 1pm.  The Michelin Star chef, who is famed for his sea-inspired culinary masterpieces has appeared on television programmes including Saturday Kitchen and Great British Menu and will now make his debut at the 10^th Newquay Fish Festival.  Outlaw commented on his scheduled appearance at the festival, saying: “It is my first time at Newquay Fish Festival this year and I’m really looking forward to being a part of it, especially as Newquay is still a traditional fishing port.  It’s a great opportunity to showcase some of the fantastic Cornish fish we have off our coast and I hope to be able to encourage people to have a go at fish cookery.”

The ever-popular Last Night of the Proms is also back on the Friday evening with Mount Charles Brass Band.  The evening always sees a phenomenal turnout and this year will see the quaint harbour once again turn into Albert Hall for the night. What’s more, the 10th anniversary of the festival will be marked with a special event on the Saturday evening with new addition – Phil’s Fish and Chip Ball.  The event will celebrate the local produce and Newquay’s hardy fishermen – especially its namesake skipper Philip Trebilcock.  The ball will commence on the quay at 7:30pm, to include a fish and chip taster, prepared by an award winning Fish and Chip shop in Newquay, as well as entertainment throughout the evening ensuring that this will be a night not to be missed.

Festival Ambassador and Newquay Fisherman, Phil Trebilcock, commends the festival for its lasting impression on Newquay: “I have been involved with the Fish Festival since it started ten years ago and it’s amazing to see how much it has grown.  From putting the event together on a shoestring budget in the first year, to expanding and making it better year on year – it’s fantastic to see all of the local enthusiasm and spirit that goes into making the Newquay Fish Festival a first class event.”

Event organiser, Claire Evans, added: “The 10^th Newquay Fish Festival is set to be the best year yet.  We’ve got so many exciting events lined-up to take place throughout the weekend that will ensure everyone has a fantastic experience.”

“The festival has come a long way and is still run by volunteers who give up their valuable time to ensuring that the Newquay Fish Festival remains one of Cornwall’s most eagerly anticipated events and this year’s festivities will not disappoint.”

As well as the new features to the  events programme, the Festival will also sport a new ‘look’ for 2012, with a vibrant new logo and brand that reflects the quirky and unique personality of Newquay Harbour, its fishermen and the Festival’s personality, supported and funded by Newquay Business Improvement District.

Newquay BID Manager Eve Wooldridge said: “There’s always a special atmosphere at the Newquay Fish Festival; a unique mix of Newquay’s vibrant holiday scene and the traditional fishing community of our old Cornish harbour.  Together they bring the harbour to life and provide Newquay with a showcase to be proud of, and Newquay Business Improvement District is particularly proud to have been able to support the Festival for the last two years.”

Newquay Fish Festival is free to attend on all three days, with tickets to the Last Night of the Proms costing £6 and Phil’s Fish and Chip Ball costing £12.50, both available to purchase from Newquay Tourist Information Centre, Marcus Hill, Newquay.

Make sure you don’t miss out on this fantastic local event and find a full event programme and more information go online to www.newquayfishfestival.co.uk