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CANCELLED - Seaham Food Festival 2020

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Organiser Durham County Council has announced the second annual Seaham Food Festival will take place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2020.

County Durham’s spectacular heritage coast will once again provide a beautiful backdrop to the event, which will feature more than 100 stalls selling delicious street food and the finest local produce.

There will also be live music, culinary workshops and an open-air cookery theatre, where celebrity chefs and well-known food personalities will demonstrate how to create tasty dishes.

Traders can now apply for a pitch and are advised to act quickly to avoid missing out.

This year, strong winds and torrential rain left the council with no choice but to cancel the first day of the inaugural event, despite months of planning. However, the storm cleared overnight, and more than 15,000 people attended on the Sunday, with soaring temperatures and blue skies adding to the summer holiday vibe.

The turnout was so great that many traders sold two days’ worth of produce in a single day, with some selling out altogether. Town centre businesses also reported a bumper day’s trade, while celebrity chef Phil Vickery inspired huge crowds with his tempting seafood recipes.

It is expected that next year’s festival will deliver even greater economic benefits, and further develop County Durham’s reputation as a culinary destination.

Cllr Joy Allen, Cabinet member for transformation, culture and tourism at Durham County Council, said: “I’m delighted that Seaham Food Festival is returning in 2020. This year, the event attracted thousands of people of all ages to Seaham, boosting the takings of traders and town centre businesses alike.

“Tourism and the food industry are so important to our economy and events like Seaham Food Festival ensure our region is well and truly on the culinary map. The festival also showcases our wonderful heritage coast to a wider audience, encouraging people to visit throughout the year, stay overnight and explore the other attractions the area has to offer.”

Cllr Carl Marshall, Cabinet member for economic regeneration at Durham County Council, added: “Seaham has benefited from significant regeneration in recent years, and the food festival complements this work. As well as the immediate economic benefits it brings during the festival weekend, it promotes the east coast of County Durham as a vibrant place to live, work and visit, attracting further investment and creating more jobs and opportunities for residents.”

Traders can apply for a pitch online at www.seahamfoodfestival.co.uk

The full line up of celebrity chefs will be announced in 2020. To stay up to date with the latest festival news, visit www.seahamfoodfestival.co.uk or follow @SeahamFoodFest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For information about places to stay and other attractions in County Durham, visit www.thisisdurham.com

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