A new coastal event celebrating Welsh food, marine life and sustainable seaweed farming will be held at Saundersfoot Harbour next weekend

A NEW family festival celebrating seaweed, seafood and Welsh coastal cuisine is coming to Saundersfoot next weekend.

Saundersfoot SeaFest takes place on Saturday, July 11, from 10am to 5pm, with activities planned around the harbour, beach and Regency Hall.

The new event will bring together chefs, food producers, artists, local businesses, coastal organisations and marine experts for a day of demonstrations, workshops, stalls and hands-on experiences.

Organisers say the aim is to connect people of all ages with the benefits of seaweed, local food culture and marine sustainability, while offering a fun day out for families.

Highlights will include demonstrations from Sam Everton, National Chef of Wales 2025, and local foraging expert Craig Evans.

Several local restaurants will also be putting seafood specials on their menus for the weekend, using seaweed from Câr-y-Môr, the Pembrokeshire-based regenerative ocean farming business.

Visitors will be able to browse local traders offering artisan gifts, handcrafted jewellery, seaweed products and sustainable goods. There will also be arts and crafts, free workshops, drop-in sessions and subsidised watersports activities.

The event has been developed in partnership with the Wales Festival of Seaweed, WWF-UK, Pembrokeshire Local Food Partnership, Saundersfoot Harbour and Saundersfoot Rotary.

It is funded by Food and Drink Wales and WWF-UK through the Unlocking the Power of Seaweed project, which has received almost £1m from The National Lottery Community Fund thanks to National Lottery players.

Organisers say SeaFest is designed to introduce new audiences to local, regeneratively farmed seaweed and shellfish, while showcasing the quality of Welsh food and drink.

Donna Page, Regenerative Ocean Farming Development Officer at Pobl Tir Môr, said: “It’s wonderful to help organise an event of this kind, bringing together many parts of the community and providing something new for Saundersfoot.

“SeaFest reflects what we’re passionate about at Pobl Tir Môr, connecting people with nature, celebrating our coastline and showing how sustainable choices can become part of everyday life.

“Blending local seafood, seaweed, conservation and community, Saundersfoot SeaFest creates a space for people to discover, taste and experience the future of our marine environment in a way that’s accessible and inspiring for all.”

Sue Latham, Coordinator for Pembrokeshire Local Food Partnership, said the event would help strengthen local food networks and encourage people to think about the resources available on their doorstep.

She said: “Looking towards the future, it is vital to strengthen local food networks and create thriving systems that connect people to their environment and the food sources available near them.

“In Pembrokeshire, we’re lucky to be at the forefront of regenerative ocean farming, and events like this help introduce local communities to the abundance of good, nutritious and sustainable food on their doorstep, while having a fun day out in the process.”

Saundersfoot SeaFest is part of the wider Wales Festival of Seaweed, which takes place in St Davids from September 10 to 13. That event will take a deeper look at the economic, nutritional and environmental benefits of seaweed.

Organisers hope Saundersfoot SeaFest and the Wales Festival of Seaweed will become regular fixtures in Pembrokeshire’s calendar, celebrating Wales’s marine potential and the people working sustainably in coastal and seafood industries.

The full Saundersfoot SeaFest programme can be found at canva.link/sfseafest and on the Wales Festival of Seaweed website at www.festivalofseaweed.wales.

From Castlemartin to Lower Town, new exhibition celebrates local people, places and wildlife

A GROUP of Pembrokeshire artists inspired by the county’s people, places and landscapes are showcasing their work at the Torch Theatre this July.

The exhibition, titled Out and About (Most of the Time), will be on display at the Joanna Field Gallery in Milford Haven throughout the month.

The artists, known as the “Homework Club”, meet weekly throughout the year to paint, sketch and develop their work. Many of the members first met while attending art classes with Pembrokeshire Learning.

Their pictures are inspired by locations across the county, from Castlemartin church to Lower Town in Fishguard, as well as local houses, wildlife, people and fellow artists.

When the weather allows, the group can often be seen painting outdoors in different parts of Pembrokeshire. On less favourable days, they gather indoors at one of their homes to work on still life subjects.

Paul King, one of the artists involved, said the group was looking forward to welcoming visitors and hearing their views on the work.

He said: “It will be really good to know what people visiting the exhibition think of the artwork.

“We’ve tried to vary what we paint and have visited places such as Castlemartin church and Lower Town in Fishguard. We’ve produced work featuring houses, people, wildlife and each other. Our pictures include all sorts really.”

Paul said painting in public often sparks curiosity and conversation.

He added: “It can be a little daunting when people come up to you and ask what and why you are painting, but it starts some interesting conversations and engagement.

“We aren’t in it to make money, we just enjoy ourselves. We are all amateurs. Some of us use ink, pencil or watercolours, and it’s not often we get oils out, but it’s great fun.”

The group previously exhibited at the Joanna Field Gallery last year and is now keen to gather more feedback from visitors.

This year, members are asking people to score the pictures and leave an overall comment. One completed feedback form will be drawn at random, with the winner receiving four Torch cinema tickets.

Paul said: “It’s a way of engaging with people, with the aim of finding people’s favourite picture and seeing what people really like and why.

“I’m really keen to know what people think of the pictures.”

Out and About (Most of the Time) can be seen at the Joanna Field Gallery, Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, throughout July during Box Office opening hours.

For further information, visit torchtheatre.co.uk or contact the Box Office on 01646 695267.

Ben Barrett remanded in custody ahead of Swansea hearing

A LLANDEILO man accused of rape has been sent to Swansea Crown Court.

Ben Barrett, 37, of Maes y Farchnad, Llandeilo, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jul 2).

He is charged with rape, contrary to section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place in Llandeilo between March 21 and March 31, 2025.

No plea was entered during the magistrates’ court hearing.

The case was sent to Swansea Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Barrett was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on August 3 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.