Families are being invited to a weekend of waterfront fun at this year’s Seafest 2025.
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Taking place across the Barbican, Sutton Harbour, Waterfront and Royal William Yard the free festival will be full of sustainable seafood, culinary delights, live cookery demonstrations, watersports, music and street entertainment.
It’s one of the most popular events in the city’s calendar for food lovers and is brought to life by Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, and Plymouth City Council to celebrate our Britain’s Ocean City’s maritime heritage and thriving food scene.
And let’s face it, what’s not to love about an event that celebrates delicious food?!
Taking place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September, Seafest 2025 will feature the return of the live cookery stage, where celebrated local chefs will showcase sustainably caught seafood and inspire visitors to bring a taste of the coast into their own kitchens and dishes.
Wonder if I can convince one of them to just come home and cook me a meal?
Kim Downer, interim CEO at Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, said: “Seafest celebrates the natural beauty of our waterfront and the incredible talent within Plymouth’s food and drink community. We’re delighted that the demo stage is back this year and I’m really looking forward to seeing what our local eateries, businesses and chefs cook up!”
Elaine Hayes, CEO of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, added: “Seafest truly captures the spirit of Plymouth. It brings our National Marine Park to life by connecting people with our incredible natural and cultural marine heritage, while showcasing the city’s forward-thinking approach to sustainability and tourism.”
At the heart of Seafest 2025 is Plymouth’s commitment to sustainability and its deep connection to the ocean – Britain’s Ocean City was the world’s first city to win the Fish2Fork Blue City award, in recognition of a core number of restaurants using seafood from sustainable sources – and, as part of the Keep Plymouth Fishing campaign, the Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association will be showcasing the importance of supporting local fishers with seafood demonstrations using responsibly caught produce.
So what’s going on during Seafest 2025?
Barbican and Sutton Harbour
Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association will be running the cookery theatre where top local chefs will be inspiring visitors with their delicious dishes. There will also be a lively fish auction at 3.30pm each day.
Dozens of traders stalls will be selling a variety of yummy food and drink including fresh fish and seafood, plus sea-themed gifts and crafts.
Kids will be able to get hands-on at Seafest 2025 whilst learning about marine conservation with family fun activities such as face-painting, hook-a-duck, shell painting and trail explorations. They’ll be able to discover traditional skills with demos on lobster pot-making and crab picking. Whilst also enjoying the roaming street entertainers – the giant Seagulls and Jellyfish stilt walkers – and the live music stage at West Pier. Performances will be taking place throughout the weekend by local bands, acoustic artists and shanty bands.
Families can learn about the Plymouth Fish Finger, seaweed farming in The Cattewater, dive into a world of discovery with Ocean Conservation Trust and even head out for a boat trip around Plymouth Sound National Marine Park or Drakes Island tour. There will be plenty of family-fun challenges and games to get involved with too.
Or take part in the free Ocean Explorer Trail by collecting your leaflet from the Tourist Information Centre or Fishermen’s Mission, and explore the Barbican’s shops and restaurants to seek out the special train posters.
Royal William Yard
Head over to the Royal William Yard for more family Seafest 2025 fun. Kids can crawl into the belly of an enormous inflatable sperm whale to discover a marvellous marine tale, try your hand (or feet!) at stand up paddleboarding or head to the Yard’s family zone for free activities such as children’s crafts, face painting, ships biscuit making and a Seafest Hide and Seek trail.
There will be pop-up stands including those from Meet the Marine Park and South West Coast Path, live music, roaming entertainment and a nautical-themed quiz night at Steel Brew with donations to Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. Find out more here.
Mount Batten and Mount Edgcumbe
Families will love how Seafest is teaming up with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park this year, to bring them even more ways to explore marine activities and dive into the water. There is a whole host of things for them to get involved in at Mount Batten and Mount Edgcumbe.
At Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre, there are discounted taster sessions in kayaking, sailing and stand up paddleboarding with booking available from 29 August. Or head to the 17th Century Mount Batten Tower, one of Plymouth’s key historic landmarks, which will be open to the public as part of Seafest weekend. Families can enjoy a free visit between 10am and 3pm and learn more about the artillery fort that once protected the Plymouth South peninsula.
Or watch the 45th J/24 World Championship racing series which culminates on Sunday 14th September. The fleet is set to look spectacular in the Sound between September 6th and 14th.
Mount Edgcumbe is offering a jam packed Seafest 2025 weekend of history, heritage and hands-on activities across the whole weekend.
Families can step back in time to explore medieval life with displays of period clothing, archery, calligraphy, games and authentic tents at the Age of Chivalry exhibition. There will also be cannon demonstrations and dramatic knightly combat, at the exhibition which takes place from 11.30am to 3.00pm on both days at the Artists’ Platt and Barn Pool.
You can also take part in a Mount Edgcumbe house tour to find out the history of the place, or why not join a walking tour to discover stories of explorers like Captain Cook and Charles Darwin, the historic role of Barn Pool, and the legacy of Plymouth as a gateway to global voyages. There’s even a twilight bat walk at Mount Edgcumbe from 7pm to 9pm.
Tinside Lido and Trinity Pier
If you want to stay on the Hoe then head to Tinside Lido, West Hoe and Trinity Pier for a whole host of Seafest 2025 activities.
Tinside Lido is hosting the Tinside Motion Picture Show which will be featuring films throughout the weekend such as Finding Nemo, Free Willy, The Life of Aquatic by Steve Zissou, the Grand Budapest Hotel and The Salt Path.
If you fancy cooling off in the Lido itself, then here’s your chance for a cheap swim. It’s just 90p for everyone during Seafest to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the building of Tinside Lido. What a bargain!
And yes, you’ve guessed it. The Doggy Swim session at the Lido is back again! Following last year’s success, you can take your furry friend to the Doggy Swim on Sunday 14 th September for a paddle at the lido’s last opening of the year. It’s £12 per dog, and no under 16s are allowed in the water for health and safety reasons.
There is also a Pelican of London Open Deck event at Trinity Pier, Millbay Docks. The youth development charity Pelican of London is bringing their iconic tall ship to the pier for the Seafest weekend. Visitors can go aboard this stunning tall ship to meet the crew, explore the ship and discover more about the charity’s innovative programme.
Traders at Seafest 2025
Fancy treating yourself? Then head to the dozens of trader stalls who will be selling fantastic wares throughout the weekend. There will be a fantastic variety of stalls lining The Parade, Quay Square, and West Pier, selling delicious fresh dishes to enjoy on the day as well as some special treats to take home with you. What will tickle your fancy – there will be everything from locally caught fish and seafood to vibrant street food, cheeses, and organic produce, to local gins and ciders.
Plymouth’s Vibrant Food and Drink Scene: Beyond Seafest 2025
So we all know Seafest is going to be a great showcase of what food and drink our amazing city has to offer. But what about the rest of the time? There’s no need to worry, just look at what Plymouth has to offer when it comes to its food and drink scene.
The city has a strong focus on sustainable food and drink and its supported through initiatives driven by both the University of Plymouth – emphasising Fairtrade and organic coffee and supporting local producers – and Food Plymouth, a bronze and silver award holder member of the Sustainable Food Places network that works to create a healthy and sustainable food system in the city, and it’s involved in building community food knowledge, skills and resources.
The city’s food scene continues to evolve with a growing number of independent restaurants, waterside bistros, and ethical eateries drawing national attention. Highlights are:
- Cosmic Kitchen, a family-run, 100% vegan bistro housed in a former Victorian chapel.
- The Boathouse Café, seafood with a view, near the world-famous Mayflower Steps.
- The Terrace on Plymouth Hoe, for a breakfast with views of the ocean.
- Pier One, contemporary coastal cuisine in beautiful settings.
- Rockfish, a relaxed place for the whole family to enjoy sustainable local seafood.
- The Dock at King Point Marina and Pier Master’s House – which can accommodate over 300 guests with 3 balcony areas – for stylish, relaxed dining by the water.
- Le Vignoble, a boutique wine lounge at Royal William Yard, offers over 180 wines in a relaxed continental setting, complete with tapas and charcuterie.
- The Treasury, a historic bar and restaurant with high ceilings and creative cocktails.
- Barbican Kitchen, housed in the world-famous Plymouth Gin Distillery.
- Àclèaf at Boringdon Hall, Plymouth’s Michelin-starred restaurant with a focus on world-class dining experience paired with spa breaks and countryside elegance.
Amanda Lumley, CEO of Destination Plymouth, said: “Plymouth’s food and drink scene is vibrant and diverse, from award-winning seafood and harbourside dining to innovative plant-based cuisine. What sets it apart is our deep connection to the ocean, which inspires both the flavours on our plates and our commitment to sustainability. Seafest celebrates that connection, showcasing local chefs, producers, and communities while inviting everyone to engage with and protect our unique marine environment.”
So get yourselves down to Seafest 2025 on September 13th and 14th. Take the kids, hey even take the dog for a swim in Tinside. Eat the food, drink the drink, enjoy the music and atmosphere. And have a great time!
Find out more about Seafest 2025 here.
Pics by One Plymouth.
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