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Dive into Seafood and Sounds
Unique community festival celebrating Poole’s historical seafood heritage, quality eateries and vibrant music scene.
It’s just one month to go before Poole’s free community festival, Seafood and Sounds, returns to Poole Quay and Lower High Street on the weekend of September 14th and 15th 2024.
Sponsored by The Dolphin, Seafood and Sounds is a unique, free event featuring seafood dishes from participating restaurants and pubs, five music stages with 40 performances, a seafood-themed parade, daily Fish, Local Produce and Gift Market, children’s entertainment and family trails.
The Dolphin is supporting this year’s event as the main sponsor. Centre Manager, John Grinnell said: “I attended the inaugural event last year and saw the incredible atmosphere that was created by this community event. The Dolphin is at the heart of Poole Town Centre, and we are delighted to offer our support to an event such as this which showcases our amazing town and its historic seafood heritage.”
Supported by Poole BID, the event is organised by five Poole Quay business owners who have joined forces for this celebration of the sea and its harvest! This includes Jeanette Walsh, Truly Scrumptious, Michelle Smith, The Poole Arms, Helen Bull, City Cruises, Nikki Robinson, Customs House and Severine Seweryn, St Tropez.
What’s on?
The festival will kick off with a with a ‘Seafood Themed Parade’, sponsored by Oriel’s, at 11am open to all to dive in and take part. Starting at The Slug & Lettuce and finishing on Poole Quay theme fancy dress is encouraged with prizes for the best decorated ‘Fish on a Stick’ and ‘Best Seafood Mask’. Children’s entertainment will continue the Quay until 2pm.
Fifteen musical acts, from violinists to folk singers and shanty bands to duets, will perform non-stop acoustic music from 11.30 until 4pm daily, with performances taking place on the five official Seafood and Sounds ‘stages’ within the event area. Head to Fish Shambles, The Poole Arms, The Sea Sculpture, The Customs House and outside The Poole Museum for the live sets.
In the late afternoons and evening the local pubs and restaurants take over the musical rein, putting on their own music. Locations so far confirmed include: The Angel, The Customs House, Drift Bar, Harry Paye, Hotel Du Vin & Bistro, The Lord Nelson, The Poole Arms, and Riptide Espresso & Records.
Enjoy delicious, freshly prepared Seafood Specials including seafood chowders, seafood pizzas, seafood platters and local fish pies, served at participating pubs and restaurants. A daily Fish, Local Produce and Gift Market, will be open each day from 11.00am to 5pm, featuring fish, shellfish and craft stalls in La Mia’s.
The popular Seafood and Sounds Oyster Trail returns for 2024 sponsored by The Guildhall Tavern & The Crown Hotel, offering a free to enter competition across the weekend. Participants follow the trail to find oyster shells hanging in the window. Each shell depicts a letter and when they are all collected and rearranged will create a fishy phrase. The winning entry is drawn on Monday 16th September
This year’s official Seafood and Sounds charity is the RNLI, who celebrate their 200th Anniversary this year. A Grand Raffle is being organised to raise money, with 20% going to the charity and the remainder of the funds for the 2025 Seafood and Sounds event.
This community event would not be possible without the support of sponsorship from its main sponsor The Dolphin and supported by Poole Bid. Other businesses supporting the event include: Brown Booth, Saltwater Stone, SWR, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Poole Harbour Commissioner, La Mia’s, ACO Security Consultants, The Guildhall Tavern, The Crown Hotel, Hotel Du Vin, Majestic Wine, Shanty Gin, Absolute Music, and Oriels.
For the latest information, timings and details of the event visit:
Facebook @SeafoodandSoundfestival
Insta: @seafoodandsounds
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