It has become one of the most eagerly anticipated and well attended events on the North East calendar, a combination of top entertainment, free flowing drinks and sumptuous seafood.
Hardwick Hall Hotel’s annual Oyster Festival has taken place for the past 20 years and will return again on September 25, this time headlined by Scouting For Girls and an eclectic range of support acts covering everything from Tina Turner tribute, Just Tina and Irish bands The Emerald Thieves and The JJ Galway Band.
The event has also been a great source of support for local charities, with the main recipient once again Angel Trust.
But organisers have also made room to showcase a very different kind of good cause – and one which has an obvious link with the event.
While guests can tuck into oysters from a number of top suppliers, they will also be able to learn about an important project taking place across the North East to help bring European native oysters – not normally eaten – back into the region’s waters.
The Wild Oyster Project: Tyne & Wear is being run by community and environmental charity, Groundwork NE & Cumbria in collaboration with conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and aims to restore the near extinct species of native oysters and reverse the 95 per cent loss of native oyster reefs.
And now Groundwork is teaming up with the Oyster Festival to showcase the project – and to highlight how people can get behind it.
There will be a dedicated stand at the festival where guests can discover more about this worthwhile cause and can also take home a unique souvenir.
Groundwork’s has been running a project where supporters from around the world have been knitting and crocheting oysters which are then “adopted” for a small donation – and even come with their own certificate of ownership.
Staff at Hardwick Hall Hotel are also getting behind the scheme – by creating their own giant oyster which will be on display at the event.
“We are delighted that Hardwick Hall Hotel is allowing us to become involved with the Oyster Festival,” said Laura Farrell-Pronesti, Partnership Development Lead|Groundwork NE & Cumbria.
“Oysters are a keystone species: a single oyster can filter up to 200 litres of water a day, improving water quality, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening coastal ecosystems.”
The efforts are part of The Wild Oysters Project: Tyne and Wear, a five-year restoration and conservation project, currently funded by the Stronger Shores Partnership and led by South Tyneside Council, with funding from DEFRA as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes (FCIP) which is managed by the Environment Agency. The programmes will drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.
“The Oyster Festival is always a sellout event and we have got a spectacular line-up this time round,” said John Adamson, owner of Hardwick Hall.
“We always like to get behind worthy causes so along with our continued support of Angel Trust, we’re delighted to be able to showcase the important work being done on the Wild Oyster Restoration Programme.
“It’s a fitting partnership and we hope our guests will be interested in finding out more.”
Tickets for the Oyster Festival are £220 plus VAT per person. For further information or to book email events@hardwickhallhotel. co.uk or call 01740 620253.