Industry News

Food-lovers from across the region flocked to Durham’s coastline for two days of festival fun.

The sun was shining across the weekend for Seaham Food Festival, which saw over 100 traders set up shop to sell everything from mouth-watering street food to delicious cakes and sweet treats.

The Durham County Council-run event attracted thousands of visitors across the two days, providing a significant boost to businesses trading both at the festival and in the town itself.

Visitors got to watch an inspiring set of demonstrations from a line-up of top celebrity chefs at the festival’s outdoor cookery theatre, hosted by TV presenter Chris Bavin.

Taking to the stage were Jean-Christophe Novelli, Saturday Kitchen presenter Matt Tebbutt, Bake Off: The Professionals judge Cherish Finden, MasterChef finalist Pookie, and Sunderland-born chefs Stacie Stewart, from How to Loose Weight Well, and Ryan Riley, founder of Life Kitchen.

The cookery theatre also featured a demonstration from Seaham Hall chef Kyle Greenwood, crowned North East Chef of the Year 2022, who created a set menu showcasing the best of regional produce.

As well as the selection of food to entice people’s tastebuds, there was a range of exciting activities and entertainment including music and street performances, outdoor family theatre, and sports and craft workshops.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “What an amazing weekend we have had this year at Seaham Food Festival. It has been great to see so many people exploring the stalls and trying the incredible produce our traders have to offer, as well as enjoying the fantastic demonstrations from our guest chefs.

“We hope everyone has had as much of a wonderful time as we have, and I want to thank our traders and celebrity guests, the festival’s supporters and sponsors, and all the staff and volunteers for their hard work and efforts to make this weekend happen.”

Seaham Food Festival is just one of the many cultural events and activities taking place in the county this year, demonstrating the council’s ongoing commitment to culture-led regeneration. This includes delivering key projects within the county’s shortlisted UK City of Culture bid and raising the county’s profile as a fantastic place to live, work, visit and invest.

It also includes progressing major capital projects, such as the redevelopment of the former DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery into a stunning new creative centre showcasing national and international contemporary art alongside collections that celebrate the county’s heritage.