THE first Stranraer Oyster Festival has been hailed by organisers as a “massive success that exceeded all expectations”, with more than 10,000 people visiting during the three-day festival last weekend.
Crowds enjoyed events hosted by broadcaster and writer Hardeep Singh Kohli along with local demonstrations, which included the creation of a giant seafood paella by John Henry of Henrys Bay House Restaurant.
An independent economic impact study has now been commissioned to measure the value of the festival to Stranraer, after businesses in the area reported record-breaking sales and local accommodation providers suggested the area was fully booked within a 20-mile radius of the town.
Romano Petrucci, chairman of Stranraer Development Trust, who organised the festival, said: “I heard a comment by a visitor that this was the weekend when Stranraer fell back in love with the sea.
“Our beautiful town has always had an affinity with Loch Ryan and with the sea, but when the ferries left town our connection with the water went with them. We lost a bit of our identity, but our first Oyster Festival has given us that back.
“We may no longer be a ferry town, instead we are now a destination to visit rather than a place to travel through. Our oysters have helped us to craft a new identity for our town.”
Stranraer Oyster Festival was designed to celebrate the seafood heritage of Stranraer, including Scotland’s last remaining wild, native oyster fishery in Loch Ryan, with 3000 oysters consumed over the weekend.
It also hosted the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championship in partnership with Seafood Scotland, and winner Tristan Hugh-Jones will go on to represent Scotland in the World Oyster Opening Championship in Galway this weekend.
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