The Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival A Great Success

Crowds Exceed All Expectations

Celebrity Chefs Move In

Thousands of people attended the first ever Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival to join the food and fun extravaganza over the weekend. Soaring temperatures made this crustacean debut delight a memorable event and paved the way for a repeat slot next year. The festival was launched on Friday night on Cromer Pavilion Theater with a concert by Norfolk comic Sid Kipper. Rival town singing groups the Cromer Smugglers and Sheringham Shantymen performed together on the same stage for the first time on Saturday. The festival also included cooking displays by local and celebrity chefs via a mobile kitchen in Sheringham on Saturday moving to Cromer prom on Sunday.

Chef, Jamie Payne from the Virginia Court Hotel in Cromer certainly gained the hearts of the audience when he announced that he will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for charity with a team of volunteers from North Norfolk This extraordinary challenge has been organised to take place from October 16th to October 26th 2010 in aid of The Families First Charity "The charity aims to improve the lives of individuals and groups living in North Norfolk by providing donations to drive education, health, welfare, ability and opportunity" said Jamie "Every single penny raised is spent in North Norfolk for various good causes, meaning that by donating, you can rest assured that you are helping people in your local area - it could be a person or family on your own town, or even your neighbour"

The remarkable and entertaining Mark David from Cooking experience ltd provided the commentary throughout the food demonstrations. His career started as a trainee chef of a big hotel in Yorkshire that quickly escalated to marquees in the Suffolk area as an established outside caterer. Mark's enthusiasm and knowledge gained him a three year inspectors position for hotels and restaurants with Egon Ronay, followed by a year with Robert Carrier at Hintlesham Hall, Suffolk, as his Restaurant Manager. Mark praised the organizers of the crab and lobster festival as being one of the best he has covered "What an amazing weekend it's been" he said "This must surly now become a yearly event"

The crab and lobster festival reached a climax the following Sunday with a charity auction of more than 80 model crustaceans displayed along the promenade at the end of Cromer Pier. Passing showers didn't deter enthusiasts bidding to raise £15,000 in aid of Help for Heroes and local RNLI stations.

Chefs included Mark David from the cooking experience, Chris Lightfoot - M&S, Galton Blackiston - Morston Hall, Chris Coubrough - The Crown in Wells, Mustapha Fassih - No 10 Restaurant in Sheringham, Andreas Yiasimi from Constantia Cottage Restaurant, Sue and Ducan Lucas - Youngs Seafood specialist, Paul Harvey - Cliftonville Hotel, Elliot Bloomfield - Rocket House Restaurant, Jamie Payne - Virginia Court Hotel, Stuart Hall and Glenn Curtis - La Griglia and Jamie Guy - The Walpole Arms in Iteringham.

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