Seafood industry weighs in with stunning showcase for Grimsby’s Festival of the Sea

Duncan Lewis, top left, and Rachel Green, top right, are joining Grimsby Institute students at Festival of the Sea, backed by Simon Dwyer, bottom left, and Bjørn-Erik Stabell.

Leading fishmongers, chefs and their budding successors are putting on a seafood show as part of Grimsby’s Festival of the Sea, taking place this weekend. 

The town’s vital industrial cluster has got behind what promises to be an incredible extravaganza of craft and graft, hosting an afternoon of fish-focused entertainment to interest foodies and champions of the town’s proud status  

Putting on demonstrations will be Lincolnshire chefs Rachel Green and Stephen Bennett, Andrew Johnston from Myton Food Group – the name behind Grimsby’s Morrisons processing facilities - and Duncan Lucas, described as the ‘king of filleting’.   

The next generation’s talent form Grimsby Institute will also be in focus, as Riverhead Square – located at the heart of the action - adopts the port’s Grimsby Seafood Village name for the weekend, hosting a celebration of Grimsby’s reputation as a leading seafood destination. 

Simon Dwyer, on behalf of Grimsby Fish Merchant's Association - owner of the Made Great in Grimsby, and incoming chair of Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises Ltd - an organisation lending its support to the event alongside lead partners Seafood from Norway, Seafish, Myton Food Group, Made Great in Grimsby and The Hawerby Trust, said: “You cannot have a festival of the sea, without recognising Grimsby’s foundation on the fruits it has harvested from it.  

“More than 5,000 people are directly employed in the seafood industry here, but so much goes unseen, with the only interaction a Friday fish and chip shop visit or supermarket purchase. 

“We’re delighted to be putting on a show and celebrating what we have in Grimsby. It is not a former fishing port, it is a vibrant seafood hub, vital to the UK retail and catering sectors, with a bright future for many.”  

The demonstrations begin at 11.15am on Saturday with Alfred Enderby-inspired smoked haddock kedgeree and smoked salmon with Rachel, running through until 5pm, alongside impressive contributions from the arts and wider entertainment. 

Bjørn-Erik Stabell, UK director of the Norwegian Seafood Council, is enthused. “Grimsby is internationally recognised for its seafood expertise and heritage, making it a natural partner for the Norwegian Seafood Council in the UK,” he said. “Supporting Festival of the Sea, and being part of the Seafood Village through Seafood from Norway, is a great opportunity to celebrate the people, products and traditions behind the industry - and to show how much we can achieve when we come together.” 

Full programme details can be found on the website www.festivaloftheseagrimsby.co.uk