Celeb chef hopes sardine festival unites community

Mitch Tonks said he would like to see other places host their own sardine festivals

A celebrity chef has said he hopes a new seafood festival can inspire other fishing communities to host similar events.

Mitch Tonks, owner of the Rockfish chain, has helped organise the first South West Sardine Festival which is taking place at Brixham Fish Market from 12:00 to 21:30 BST on Sunday.

The free event includes harbourside tables for people to eat sardines, performances from live bands and cooking demonstrations from chefs including Nathan Outlaw, Jack Stein and Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt.

Mr Tonks said the event would not only celebrate sardines, but also help bring people together and show local pride in the fishing industry.

'Enrichen coastal communities'

Mr Tonks said the industry in the South West was doing well, but he felt too many sardines caught in the region were going abroad and did not get enough love locally.

He added the event would be a good excuse for people to come together and celebrate.

"I think it's these community events which really enrichen our coastal communities and really give people something to get together for and look forward to," Mr Tonks said.

"Imagine if every coastal town in the South West had a sardine festival on different dates - it would just be fabulous with everyone looking to put on the best party.

"I hope we can inspire other places to build something around the sardine."

People will get the chance to try freshly cooked sardines during the festival

Mr Tonks said organisers were expecting up to 4,000 people to attend but hoped future festivals could attract 10,000 visitors.

He added: "I think community festivals are really valuable because in these challenging times, they bring people together.

"Not only to feast but actually to kind of host something in their own town and be really proud of it. These are the kind of things that we need in our society today."