Media Release

All aboard the crab train for the launch of the South Devon Crab Festival

(*Photo call South Devon Crab Festival launch Wednesday 25 July 12.15pm Teignmouth Railway Station South Devon)

Holidaymakers traveling on the First Great Western train services into South Devon will be introduced to the joys of the region's wonderful crab as part of the launch of the South Devon Crab Festival on Wednesday 25 July.

www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk/crabfestival

The festival(30 July - 5 August) is a week long celebration of all things crab and passengers traveling on the famous Riviera Rail Line and arriving at Teignmouth Station will be given a taste of the South Devon Crab which now has its very own dedicated festival. The area's top celebrity chefs, crab experts, fishermen, award-winning hotels, restaurants and cafes will all be taking part in the 2012 event. Festival Advocate celebrity seafood chef Mitch Tonks will be appearing at the festival with the Michelin star celebrity chef Nathan Outlaw at the Dartmouth Crab Street Party(August 5) and TV presenter, explorer and marine biologist Monty Halls is joining the festival to talk about the sustainability of crab.(August 2)

http://www.seahorserestaurant.co.ukhttp://www.rockfishdevon.co.uk

The Riviera Line is a key tourist route in to South Devon and one of the most scenic stretches of main line railway in Europe which runs from Exeter through Dawlish Warren, Teignmouth, Newton Abbott to Torquay, taking in spectacular views of the River Exe estuary and the English Channel and coastline.

Passengers arriving at Teignmouth Station will be greeted with free samples of potted South Devon Crab supplied by the locally based Potted Fish Company, as well as the opportunity to touch live crabs, and leaflets on "unmissable" events during the festival which promises to be bigger and better than ever this year with crab street parties, picnics, tastings, competitions and fun family events at venues all across South Devon which will highlight why South Devon Crab is the best in the world.http://www.pottedfish.co.uk

The 2012 South Devon Crab Festival is being sponsored by First Great Western, Campaigns Manager, Jamie Anderson says he is delighted that the company is able to support the festival in this way:"First Great Western is privileged to provide services to some of the county's leading tourist destinations. Our lines in South Devon are symbolic of that, offering access to the most beautiful stretches of countryside, as well as a number of local festivals and events, and all within easy reach of a station. First Great Western is committed to playing an active part in the communities we serve. We are delighted to be able to sponsor this event, which brings together a number of local partners. We hope it is enjoyed by all."

Visit South Devon is also proud to announce that the South Devon Crab Festival has attracted another major player in the South West tourism industry as a sponsor. Blue Chip Holidays, which has over 800 four and five star self catering holiday homes across Devon, Dorset, Cornwall, Somerset and the Isle of Wight will be supporting the 2012 crab festival for the first time. 

Alan Taylor, managing director of Blue Chip Holidays commented, "The South Devon Crab Festival is stuffed full of things to do, events to see, food to taste and fun to be had. It's a great attraction for people already visiting the area, and for anyone looking to book a last minute late summer holiday it could be just the draw that brings them to the captivating South Devon Coast. For our customers staying in Dawlish, Teignmouth, Totnes, Shaldon, Dartmouth, the South Hams, and on The English Riviera, the selection of parties, tasting sessions, feasts, water carnivals and crab inspired menus should prove unmissable, and unforgettable."

Holidaymakers and commuters arriving at Teignmouth station will also be able to find out more about crabbing in South Devon with local Teignmouth crab fisherman Rob Simmonds who will be on hand for visitors at the station with a "touch pool " of crabs. He will be accompanied by the South Devon Crab festival's "larger than life" celebrity crab who will later board the train with a "crabby" helper to spread the word about South Devon crab.

http://www.crabshackonthebeach.co.uk/

Notes to editors * Photo call for Festival launch Wednesday 25 July Teignmouth Railway station to photograph and interview key members of the festival, crab producers, fisherman, Visit South Devon and ofcourse the festival " celebrity giant crab" boarding the train. Crab train due for departure at 12.38 and then again at 1.13pm.

Key dates for the South Devon Crab Festival

2 August Crab and Wine Tasting Event, New Walk Brasserie, Totnes

A special evening where you can enjoy the delicacy of crab alongside wine tasting with Sharpham Wines. And the 2012 festival doesn't just include new ways to enjoy crab but there is also fantastic Devon wine to enjoy too. The 2010 Sharpham Estate Selection from South Devon Sharpham Estate was pronounced the winner of a new competition to find the best Devon wine to accompany South Devon Crab. The wine was chosen by a distinguished panel of judges because of its "balance of crisp acidity and juicy fruit flavours to go with South Devon Crab." Visitors to the festival will have the opportunity to try the wine when it is showcased at the festival along with other local wines and drinks.(£10.95 fromwww.sharpham.com)

2 August Monty Halls talks crab at the Royal Castle in Dartmouth 6.00- 7.30pm

TV Presenter and Explorer Monty Halls talks about the sustainability of crab and the importance of it to our community as Monty explains:"Having worked for eight months as a crab fisherman out of Cadgwith Cove in Cornwall for the BBC series "Fisherman's Apprentice" I will be talking to the audience about my experiences of sustainable fishing, and what it takes to get the crab on to our plates. I will also be speaking about potential ways forward for the fishing industry, of the American model of creating Community Supported Fisheries that allows local people to support their local fleet. The talk will also be illustrated by images and footage from the series."

3 August - The Great South Devon Crab Fete on Dawlish Warren Seafront 11am-3pm

A day of FREE family fun crabby activities in the beautiful resort of Dawlish Warren. Take part in crab races as part of a traditional sports day with a crabby twist, wander around the craft stalls and take part in sea themed arts workshops, be a part of fun activities such as crab cracking competitions plus many more activities to get your claws into.

3 August - Crab Street Party in Teignmouth 5pm-9pm

Join this fantastic summer picnic taking place on the Den in Teignmouth, with South Devon crab on the menu, as well as music and entertainment for all. Enjoy alfresco dining as the sunsets and learn how to dress a crab or have a go at cracking one yourself.

3 August Seafood BBQ and Crabbing Competition at the Cary Arms, Babbacombe

The award winning Cary Arms in Babbacombe will be running a crabbing competition all week and holding a Seafood BBQ on the evening of August 2nd. Take part in the Cary Arms' crabbing competition and enjoy seafood delights with a fantastic BBQ and prize giving for those that took part in the competition. Kids staying at the hotel or visiting for lunch or dinner during the week will automatically receive free crab lines and buckets, allowing them to try their hand at crabbing, a fun activity kids just love! And for those who catch the most crabs during their stay, a range of great prizes awaits. Furthermore, the Cary's award-winning chef, Ben Kingdon and his team promise to create a specially designed menu for the week. Besides a selection of crab inspired dishes, a range of crustacean themed creations will be available too, with a fun crab BBQ party.

4 August 2012, 13.00.

Crab Day at The National Aquarium, Plymouth

Visit this national aquarium and enjoy a specially created talk on the lifecycle and habitat of crabs.

Shaldon Water Carnival

A fun packed day of entertainment, including sand sculpture, painting, and crab collecting competitions. The day takes place on the Ferry Beach in Shaldon and includes a unique boat parade at 4.45pm.

5 August - Crab Street Party in Dartmouth with Mitch Tonks and Nathan Outlaw

Taking place alongside the River Dart, on the Quay in Dartmouth, our second Street Party also sees South Devon Crab on the menu, as well as music and entertainment for all. Meet Festival advocate Mitch Tonks as well as renowned Chef Nathan Outlaw, who will both be there on the day and will be pitching their crab dressing skills against each other.

Crab on the Menu

Rockfish, Dartmouth- Not your ordinary fish and chip shop, Mitch Tonks' RockFish serves the freshest fish bought straight from the fish markets daily including cracked crab and crab salads. During the week of the South Devon Crab Festival the following dishes will be in the menu:

Our famous crab sandwich

Dartmouth crab cocktail

Vietnamese crab roll

The Seahorse, Dartmouth- Called "The Ivy by the sea" by the Independent, The Seahorse will be serving a special crab menu of three dishes to celebrate the greatness of South Devon crab. On the menu for the festival will be:

Crab salad with olive oil, datterini tomatoes & basil

Baked crab in the Basque style

Spaghetti with, crab, lemon & chilli

The Crab Shack, Teignmouth- Serving crab straight from their own boats and specialising in handpicked crab and spider crab.

Waterside Bistro, Totnes- Serving a special whole crab dish on the menu as part of the festival.

New Walk Restaurant, Totnes- Exclusive, specially created crab dishes on the menu - for this week only.

Seatrout Inn, Staverton- A daily specials board with different crab dishes on every day.

Britannia @The Beach, Beesands- Special Crab themed menu for the week right on the beach.

Cafe Alf Resco, Dartmouth- The cafe will have fresh Dartmouth Dressed Crab Platters & Homemade Spicy Dartmouth Crab Cakes on offer for lunch during the festival.

The Vineyard Café and Sharpham Winery-Selling excellent food all made from local produce, the Vineyard Café will be serving speciality crab dishes for the week of the festival to be enjoyed with their winning wine.

Crab Activities

South Devon Crab Trail- Learn all about these fantastic crustaceans by undertaking exciting crab challenges! Download your trail sheet now at

www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk/crabtrail) and enter the competition to win a meal at Rockfish in Dartmouth.

Cafe Alf Resco, Dartmouth- Take part in Crab Throwing (not real crabs!) and "Spot the Crab" & "Guess how many Shrimps are in the Jar" competitions.

Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh- Take part in a Crab Quiz around the farm. Find out details when you arrive for your visit.

Dartmouth Steam Railway and Boat ‘Catch a Crab' photo competition- Be creative and take a snap of something crabby to be in with the chance of winning a ride for four on a Steam Railway.

Crab Hunt, Teignmouth and Dawlish- Hunt for the crabs hiding in the shops of Teignmouth or Dawlish to be in with a chance of winning a crabby prize! Pick a leaflet up from either of the Tourist Information Centres in Teignmouth or Dawlish to discover where these clever crustaceans might be hiding.

About Visit South Devon

Visit South Devon is the area tourism partnership responsible for promoting South Devon to national and regional audiences. The main aim of the company is to increase the number of visitors to South Devon for the benefit of the local tourism economy. Visit South Devon works with Visit Devon the Destination Management Organization for Devon.

Visit South Devon is a Community Interest Company existing solely for the benefit of the local tourism community. It is a public-private company limited by guarantee and not for profit - ensuring all revenue is put back into marketing initiatives for the area. The company operates a membership scheme for local tourism businesses who want to gain national exposure.

Visit South Devon is funded through membership and South Hams and Teignbridge District Councils but aims to be fully self-financing within 5 years.

For more information about Visit South Devon, go towww.visitsouthdevon.co.ukor contact Marketing Manager, Stephanie Cherrett Tel: 01803 864 894.

For further press information please contact:

Jane Adkins T/: 01935 813114

M/: 07960 698089

E/:jane@aheadforpr.co.uk

Gail Livingstone T/: 01823 252415

M/:07767 055595

E/:gail@aheadforpr.co.uk

About First Great Western

First Great Western provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, carrying more than 90 million passengers every year across the Greater Western rail franchise area, which includes South Wales, the Westcountry, the Cotswolds, and large parts of Southern England.

For further information contact James Davis at the First Great Westernpress office on 0845 410 4444.

About Blue Chip Holidays

Blue Chip Holidays, which was established in 2000, manages more than 800 individually selected high-end self-catering properties across the West Country, Wales and the Isle of Wight

Each property has been chosen for its stunning location, high spec interior, amazing coastal views or rural vistas. The majority of its properties are four and five-star and are individually reviewed to ensure they meet the high standard set not only by Blue Chip Holidays, but also by VisitEngland.

Ranging from Devon cottages and Cornish cottages to luxury self-catering coastal houses, luxury apartments and barn conversions, Blue Chip Holidays aims to provide a wide selection of stunning self-catering properties to suit all tastes. 

For bookings call0844 7044987or visit www.bluechipholidays.co.uk

July 2012 (VSD 26)