LYMINGTON will be hosting its first seafood festival this summer.

The two-day event, set to be held at Bath Road Park on August 12 and 13, will feature some of the region’s most exciting chefs, restaurants and artisan producers.

It will play host to 70 producers and pop-up restaurants including Chewton Glen, The Montagu Arms and Careys Manor.

Seafood delicacies on offer will include lobster mac n’ cheese, local hand dived scallops, clams, crab and mackerel.

Drinks available will include Hambledon’s award winning English sparkling wine, a pint of festival ale courtesy of Ringwood Brewery, or local gin or rum from Dancing Cows Distillery.

Luke Matthews, of Chewton Glen, and Roux Scholar Matthew Tomkinson, of The Terrace, will star in the demonstration kitchen alongside Pascal Aussignac from London’s Club Gascon and Mark Jarvis, of Anglo, one of London’s hottest young chefs.

Enjoy live music across the weekend with leading bands and artists playing a mix of soul, blues, ska and rag-time – plus a 12-strong sea shanty band. To further entertain the crowds, there will be children’s activities and street entertainers.

New Forest Destination manager Anthony Climpson said: “The New Forest has been one of the UK’s best-kept foodie secrets for years and our seafood is a big part of that.

“Not only do we have amazing local producers, but also a huge variety of award-winning restaurants and chefs and we can’t wait to show them off at this festival.”

The event will also raise money for marine environmental charity Blue Marine Foundation’s Solent Oyster Restoration Project.

For more details, visit lymingtonseafoodfestival.co.uk