The popular Dorset Seafood Festival will not take place in Weymouth in 2025 due to essential seawall repair work.
Seafeast is a popular festival supporting Dorset’s food and takes place in early September. This would have been its fifth year at the location, and overall, its 17th year. It brings many visitors to Weymouth each year.
The organizers stated that repair work is needed on the sea wall to ensure the area’s safety. Moving the festival is not possible due to its nature. They’ll share exciting news about their 2026 plans soon.
They’ve had good talks with key people and will share more details later. They thank everyone for their support and promise the best festival in 2026. The organizers will confirm the dates as soon as possible.
The seafood festival once was free by the harbor but is now a ticketed event behind the Pavilion in the car park. This change helped cover costs and secure its future.
It spans two days with stalls, workshops, chef demos, and live music. Last year featured thirty local businesses that showcased fish and shellfish from Dorset waters.
A day ticket in 2024 was £15, and a weekend ticket cost £25. The event almost didn’t happen last year, as organizers canceled it due to site fee increases. Local businesses stepped in after an outcry, allowing the popular event to continue.
Sean Cooper said the festival is special, promoting local seafood and producers. It puts Dorset on the map for food lovers. The festival was among the UK’s top ten food festivals, as listed by Condé Nast Traveller.
Dorset Council approved seawall work as the seawalls stretch from the beach around the peninsula. The work includes new sea wall sheet piling and replacing footways and railings. The sheeting will last seventy-five years, and the walls will protect from rising sea levels.
The project is part of a larger plan and aims to protect the harbor, with costs estimated to be up to £10.5 million.