Seaham Food Festival 2025 | 2nd & 3rd August
Seaham is a beautiful harbour town in Durham County, northeast England. Its beautiful beaches and pleasant climate attract tourists year-round. This summer, you can witness peak crowds flown over this week at the famous Seaham drink and food festival.
This year, the Seaham Drink and Food Festival will be held on Saturday, August 2nd and 3rd, 2025. It’s a free event organised by the Durham County Council on Terrace Green by Durham Heritage Coast. The festival aims to achieve the “UK City of Culture” award by showcasing the country’s artistic side.
Food lovers from all over England enjoy a flavorful weekend during the carnival. Stalls put up by local eateries showcase the region’s delicacies, and chefs from other areas also participate in the festival.
Last year, the festival had celebrity chefs like Rosemary Shrager, John Whaite, Chris Baber, and more. Live music, a theatre, a kid’s play area, and food stalls for entertainment exist. The festival boosts tourism and helps local traders/businesses too.
Seaham Food Festival 2025 returns on Saturday, the 2nd, and Sunday, the 3rd of August, featuring local culinary delights. Join SeahamFoodFest in Durham for a weekend full of food and fun!
Seaham Food Festival in Durham
Seaham Food Festival Celebrity Chefs
On Saturday, TV chefs Rosemary Shrager, Phil Vickery, and Mike Bartley from Bishop Auckland will be at the cookery theatre, with Chris Bavin as the host.
Following these personalities, renowned chocolatier Paul Young will offer a cookery demonstration on Sunday. Josh Smalley, a recent finalist of the Great British Bake Off, and former MTV Dirty Sanchez frontman Matt Pritchard will also be present on this day.
The History of Seaham Food Festival
Seaham Food Festival started in 2019 as Durham County’s first large-scale event. It was an excellent addition to Seaham town’s busy and vibrant summer. The event improved the tourism sector and made Durham famous as a food hub.
Cultural & Traditions of Seaham Food Festival
The Seaham Food Festival mainly promotes local traders and eateries. Over a hundred traders participate in this festival to showcase their recipes passed down through generations.
Thus, it’s a celebration of the local culture and traditions altogether. It’s a unique opportunity to help the original Durham residents take pride in their legacy and traditions.
The Uniqueness of the Seaham Food Festival
It’s the biggest event in Durham, attracting many people. The beach surroundings, live music, and shows add to the attraction. The differences in food types and the chef show are unique parts of the festival. Celebrity chefs attend this festival and put up their highly acclaimed specialities.
While doing so, they indulge in a live cooking show in front of an enthusiastic audience. Hence, it creates a good time for foodies and a learning opportunity for aspiring chefs.
Activities at Seaham Food Festival
- Taster sessions
- Live music
- Theatrical performances
- Children’s Creative Workshop
- Street theatre
- Live cookery demonstrations at the free cookery theatre
- Art and craft stall
- Cocktail-making classes
Things to do at the Seaham Food Festival
- Taste different cuisines from the food stalls.
- Witness performances by live bands and singers.
- Watch a beautiful street play by the sea.
- Do a wine tasting.
- Witness celebrity chefs at their craft with your own eyes at the cookery theatre.
- Get involved in the creative zone and liven up your hidden artistry with activities such as origami.
Types of foods in the Seaham Food Festival
Like the Norfolk Reepham Food Festival, this festival celebrates street food and local delicacies. At Seaham, you can find a plethora of those and even more. There is street food, seafood, local produce, baked goodies, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Among the food trucks and stalls, there are various cuisines worldwide. These include Armenian (Armenian Kitchen), Indian (Really Indian), Lebanese (Lebanese Food Truck), Thai (R&G Thai), French (Alpine21), etc. Apart from these, the typical fast food centres serve a delicious plate of burgers, sausages, fries or fish and chips.
The dessert side stalls are equally exciting. There are the best brownies, ice creams, or waffles to satiate your taste buds. You can also find chocolate shops and pie stalls in the dessert crowd, and a few stores even offer entirely new types of visually yummy desserts. This fantastic dessert section is heaven on earth for a sweet tooth.
The beverage stores also include an exciting platter. Stalls serve different kinds of tea (The Tea Enthusiasts), and some serve the taste of their unique coffee beans through several types of coffee (North Shore Coffee).
To get alcoholic drinks, go to famous wineries and breweries (Vaux Brewery) stalls offering their specialities. Cocktail stalls (The Cocktail Pickers Club) are also there.
What to eat at the Seaham Food Festival
Among the hundred-plus stores, here’s a list of a few of the festival menu’s most popular items.
- Duck fries from Hatch 76
- Sausage rolls
- Brownies from Brown & Blond
- Chicken Khorovats from Armenian Family Street Kitchen
- Wraps
- French Raclette from Alpine21
- Cheesecakes
- Samosas from The Little Indian
- Burgers from Twisted Chick
- Beer from Black Storm Brewery
- Homemade alcoholic beverages from O’Donnell Moonshine
- Cheesecakes from Love Cheesecakes
- Churros from Barcelona Churros
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Different Eateries at Seaham Food Festival
| SNACKS | DESSERT | BEVERAGE |
|---|---|---|
| Twisted Chick | Brown & Blond | McColl’s Brewery |
| Fire & Dough | Hedgehog Bakery | North Shore Coffee |
| Fat Hippo | Churros Barcelona | Durham Coffee |
| Calder’s Kitchen | Pie Demand | Gin & Tonia |
| Lebanese Street Food Truck | Original Chocolate Dream Company | The Cocktail Pickers Club |
| Hatch 76 | Love Cheesecakes | Black Storm Brewery |
| Armenian Kitchen | The Brownie Bar | The Fizzy Tap |
| Spud Gun Loaded Fries | The Canny Candy Gadgies | Kitty’s Homemade Ginger Wine |
| R&G Thai Curry | Russian Pies | Vaux Brewery |
| House of Ruhr | Burtree Puddings | O’Donnell Moonshine |
| Really Indian | The Gingerbread Man | WL Distillery |
Location and Timing of Seaham Drink and Food Festival
This free food festival starts on the Seaham seafront, offering live cooking events, music, street theatre/ play, and a children’s amusement corner.
- Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM
- Sunday: 10 AM to 4 PM
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Cost of entry at Seaham Food Festival
There is no entry ticket at the Seaham Food Festival, and the cost of entry is free for all.
What to wear at the Seaham Food Festival
The event usually occurs in the summer months, so summer clothes with casual shoes should be your go-to option. Light-coloured clothes will be more comfortable since they’re worn during the daytime.
Make sure your outfit can withstand a long day in a crowded setting. Carry a light jacket to shield yourself from the cool ocean breeze when the sun sets. Try out Outfit styles such as bohemian, eclectic, classic, femme, etc. Sandals are appropriate for these kinds of festivals.
You can also wear
- Jumpsuit
- T-shirt
- Jacket
- Shorts
- Shirt
- Shorts
- Skirt
Must carry
- Bag
- Umbrella
- Hat, Bucket Hat
- sunglass
- water bottle
What to Pack for the Seaham Food Festival
Sudden summer rains are not unknown to the residents of the UK. Packing an umbrella will help during any such accident. There are plenty of choices. Keep wet tissues with you to clean your hands after eating.
How to get to the Seaham Food Festival
Take a train or bus to Seaham Station in Durham. There is a park-and-ride service by the Durham County Council during the festival weekend, which takes you to the festival site. This service operates between the Spectrum Business Park in Seaham and the town centre. The last of these buses returns half an hour after the festival ends.
Tickets for the service are £2 for adults and 50 pence for those aged 5 to 15. Children under age 5 can ride free of charge. Regular public buses also ply this route.
Car parking near the Seaham Food Festival
Car parking is available in the town centre, but Seaham Beach parking might get busy and crowded during the festival. People travelling in personal cars should remember this and plan their trip accordingly. North Terrace remains closed during this time, so parking there is not allowed.
Where to stay near the Seaham Food Festival
Accommodations are readily available near the Seaham seashore. Luxury hotels include Seaham Hall Hotel, Leaf Cottage, The Seaton Lane Inn, etc. No. 16, April Guest House, Mowbray Guest House, etc., are budget hotels nearby.
How to apply for the Seaham Food Festival
A few months before the festival, the official website of Seaham Food Festival starts accepting applications from traders (check Facebook, too). You need to specify your type of food dish in the application, and selected applicants are notified in advance to provide them with sufficient preparation time.
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About Seaham
Seaham is an English coastal town in the northeastern part of County Durham near Sunderland. It is situated on the Durham Heritage Coast by the North Sea and is a sister town to Gerlingen in Germany.
The total population is over twenty thousand, and the landmass is 4.87 sq km. The climate is mostly warm and temperate, with frequent precipitation. July is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 15 C.
This harbour town is also known for its plethora of special sunglasses, making it very famous among sea glass collectors.
Seaham beach
Seaham Beach is a beautiful sandy beach, mixed with some rocky parts along the way. It’s around 800 m long and famous among locals for being a perfect swim spot. It’s the only sand beach in the area. Free parking spaces are found in abundance, and there are no time restrictions.
The beach is divided into two parts, namely Seaham Hall Beach and Seaham Harbour Beach. Harbour Beach is small and shallow, and thus perfect for small kids, and Hall Beach is pet-friendly. Small cafes and restaurants are scattered around the beach area, and public toilets are available.
Seaham castle
Barnard Castle in Seaham is an excellent historical spot on a high rock above the River Tees. It was built in the 12th century by Bernard de Balliol. The most notable point here is the boar emblem of Richard III, which is carved above the inner ward. The scenic beauty of the Tees Gorge is also a significant attraction. It’s a great picnic spot to visit with friends and family.
Seaham population
According to the latest census, Seaham’s total population is 22,610. Most people are 18 – 64 years old, and the male and female populations are almost equal.
