Fish week scaled new heights (From Western Telegraph)

Fish week scaled new heights

2:40pm Sunday 15th July 2012 in News

The thirteenth Pembrokeshire Fish Week festival, which ended last week, has reeled in some great feedback.

Organised by Pembrokeshire County Council, the event attracted thousands of people.

“We had record attendance at the opening weekend, sellout cookery workshops, and the best turnout ever for the sea angling competition,”

said organiser Kate Morgan, food development officer.

“There was even a waiting list for one of our new events, a ‘Dive and Dine’ pre-cookery masterclass dinner at the Torch Theatre.”

Attendance at the opening day at Milford Haven was up on last year, with between 13,000 and 14,000 visitors.

The heritage tug the Brocklebank from Merseyside reported their busiest day ever, with nearly 1,200 visitors going onboard.

Some 2,500 people also visited the fun day for families and foodies, ‘Music and Mayhem’ the following day at Tenby Harbour.

The celebrity chef masterclass at the Torch Theatre – A Fair Fish for a Fare Dish, where the chefs caught their own seafood on the morning of the demo, was also popular.

Restaurateur, food critic and broadcaster Simon Wright, who hosted the evening, said: “I was thrilled to be involved again in an event that allows us to see some of the top chefs in the country using the wonderful bounty to be found off the Pembrokeshire coast.”

However, some of the outdoor events were affected by the weather.

“Unfortunately, the rain did put a dampener on the outdoor activity events,” said Kate Morgan.

“It wasn’t the best weather to attract novice kayakers or surfers for example, but despite this the fishing and angling events were really well attended, with the most popular Stena Line Sea Angling competition since the festival began.”