2012 UP COMING EVENTS

YOU MAY WANT TO PLAN YOUR SUMMER AROUND THESE FANTASTIC EVENTS!

21st & 22nd April 2012 Crabstock Festival

The National Lobster Hatchery has been chosen as a beneficiary for the Crabstock Festival.

The Lamb Inn at Great Rissington, Gloucestershire have decided to put on the first inland shellfish festival formerly known as Crabstock. The reasons behind Crabstock are to teach the next generation of the health benefits of eating our great British shellfish, supporting our own UK fishing fleet, to increase public awareness of the facts of import and export of shellfish throughout the UK and to provide everyone coming to the Crabstock Festival with a great weekend of brilliant food, live music and knowledge of the industry that we should all love and standby.

Matthew Ayers, Head Chef said ‘I fully believe that UK shellfish is the best in the world and that the UK should unite and keep this wonderful sustainable shellfish on the menu's of pubs and restaurants with great knowledge and pride that the shellfish & fish being served is from the UK’.

7th June 2012 Polzeath Marine Discovery Day

Cornwall Wildlife Trust, National Trust and Cornwall Council are joining forces to bring you a marine day you will never forget! Come and celebrate our seas in Polzeath and spend the day rock pooling with marine experts, creating beach sculptures or saving dolphins with marine life rescue experts! The event is free. We’ll be there on the day!

22nd – 24th June 2012 Rock Oyster Festival

The National Lobster Hatchery has been chosen as a beneficiary for the Rock Oyster Festival for 2012.

From the celebration of the Oyster, to the best local produce that Cornwall has to offer, there will be plenty of food and drink to sample and buy to go.  The weekend is packed with entertainment with Cookery Demonstrations from top chefs, Children’s Entertainment, Live Music, bars, food stalls and camping.

The location of the festival is absolutely stunning, in the grounds of Dinham House, surrounded by beautiful (very English) rolling hills overlooking the estuary and out and beyond to Padstow.

26th August 2012 The Big Swim Cornwall

Now approaching their third year for this stunning one mile wild swim around our dramatic coastline, the Big Swim team are opening the event as a four part swim for 450 swimmers!  This will include a Triathlon with a Cornish twist (Wild Swim, Run & Kayak), The Big Swim which has been split into two; a Serious Swim and a Not So Serious Swim and The Little Swim for the children. 

With the support of local people and businesses, much organisation and the highest levels of safety cover, this fantastic race is open to anyone who would like to take to part, for fun or simply as a personal challenge. 

The day is full of entertainment from start to finish making it a perfect occasion for family, friends and spectators. Enjoy the BBQ and bar on the platt, relax and listen to the music, or come and see the baby lobsters about to be released.  The event is being extended into the evening this year with more music at The ‘BIG’ Party to include the likes of Fishermen’s Friends and more.

The Big Swim Cornwall will be raising money for the National Lobster Hatchery, Coastguards, RNLI Lifeboats and the Air Ambulance. These four organisations have a big impact on the local area and community.

2nd September 2012 Clovelly Lobster & Crab Feast

Paying tribute to Clovelly's famous lobsters and crabs with a day of live folk music, quay kitchens, wine and beer tasting, local food stalls, prize draw, arts and crafts stalls.  For the children there's face painting, a creative workshop and storytelling, walkabout magic, balloon modelling, street theatre and N. Devon A.O.N.B.'s event-themed craft activities.

The Red Lion Harbour restaurant will be offering delicious seafood, crab and lobster platters, each with a complimentary glass of bubbly.

In aid of the National Lobster Hatchery, who will bring along a tank of baby lobsters, to be later released into the sea.

Lobster Hatchery Summer Raffle

We are in the process of organising our 2012 summer raffle. We are very grateful to Jamie & Rhowan Yoki of No. 1 Rock Road Restaurant in Rock, Cornwall who have donated our star prize:

A LUXURY WEEKEND BREAK IN ROCK FOR TWO

A 2 night luxury break in an award winning location to include breakfast, 1 round of golf at St Enodoc Golf Course (overlooking the beautiful Camel estuary), a spa treatment at the Cow Shed at the St Moritz Hotel, a 3 course meal at the new No. 1 Rock Road Restaurant with Vintage-Laurent-Perrier champagne and lunch at No. 1 Rock Road Restaurant.

Tickets will be available through our ‘Little Shop of Lobsters’ by the end of April so WATCH THIS SPACE!

Dom’s speech at the Hatchery Dinner, 9th Feb 2012

 My Lords Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming here tonight for what is, a very important evening for the National Lobster Hatchery. Some of you may not be fully aware of what the National Lobster Hatchery’s work is all about. Please let me explain.

We are a serious charity with three really important aims: marine conservation, research and education, however, what makes us unique is that our work is specifically related to a commercial species – The European Lobster.

This is a species that is worth a huge amount in terms of both its economic and social importance. The species is the most valuable fish caught in the UK and is part of a major export industry. This one species alone is worth £30m each year and I know that without it the small coastal villages, such as Port Isaac where I live, would have very little other than tourism to create jobs and keep the harbour alive.

The problem is one of global food security for future generations and the timescale is scarily short. Fisheries around the world are suffering from major over-exploitation. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations state that over 75% of the world’s major fisheries are either: fully exploited, over-exploited, depleted or recovering.

Lobster stocks themselves are incredibly vulnerable and both the Scandinavian and Mediterranean stocks have completely collapsed and not recovered to this day.

The world population is set to rise to over 9 billion over the next few decades. The world’s middle classes are due to swell and the demand for seafood is due to expand massively.

It is clear to me at least, that additional measures are required in order to improve the way we treat our living marine resources and this is why our work is so important.

We have already established ourselves as a centre for excellence in lobster science – we have published numerous papers ad presented our work on the world stage and welcome over 40,000 visitors through our public education centre each year.

A female lobster can carry in the region of 20,000 eggs under their abdomen, however only one of these is expected to survive in the wild. With skilful and careful application of modern technology we can improve this survival rate by about 1000 times! We released over 32,000 last year and aim to double this shortly. We are even undertaking a population modelling exercise that will help us to define how many lobsters we should release in a given year.

Our dreams for the short term future are a little broader: We have a vision that aims to create the world’s first public education centre for fisheries sustainability issues. This centre will engage with the general public and educate them of the key sustainability issues associated with fisheries (something that is in the press all of the time). At the same time we will provide solutions to those issues. This is something that we are already doing very well and is something that is not currently done by anyone else in the world.

The amendment to the shellfish act that Baroness Wilcox talked about will provide long term security to our communities and will enable us to sell juvenile lobsters to the fishery itself and provide regular income for our work, however, until orders have been taken up by the industry, this still remains firmly in the future.

Raising the funds for our work is not easy. We don’t receive any recurrent government funding and rely heavily upon funds generated through our visitor centre.

On my way up here today one thought was going through my head - how can our charity compete with the humanitarian charities?

The answer is simple: give a man a fish and he can feed his family for a day, give him a fishing net and he can feed his family for a month. However if the seas around his village have been overfished then he can do neither…. Our charity is about feeding families and it is looking at the next step – how can we increase the number of fish that are there to be caught and how can we apply this to our fisheries.

We have several people here tonight who have made substantial contributions to our work: Fishmongers Company have supported us for many years, Lord Harris of Peckham provided a donation that has allowed us to set up the Harris Scholarship fund, John Rous holds a lobster festival each year in Clovelly of which we are the beneficiary and Matthew Sankey collects donations on every lobster he sells through his restaurant and matches his customers donation.

Please be generous tonight – we will spend your money very carefully – we are incredibly efficient and have achieved a huge amount so far with very little.

Lords Ladies and Gentlemen please enjoy your evening and do whatever you can to support our work.

Thank you very much.

Fishmongers Hall hosts a fundraising dinner for The National Lobster Hatchery in the hope or raising £40,000

The National Lobster Hatchery’s biggest fundraising event yet; we have been given the opportunity to host an exclusive dinner and auction at one of London’s original guild halls; the Fishmongers Hall, overlooking the Thames and London Bridge.

We have invited 150 guests to join us for an exquisite three course meal, with an after dinner speaker, auction and raffle in the hope of raising £40,000 in one night.

The generosity of local artists, businesses and others around the country has been fantastic and we’ve got an incredible range of prizes. The raffle was a perfect excuse to showcase some of Cornwall’s inspirational artists and we’ve been able to gather an array of materials and textures, with Cornish tin, sculptures, prints, handmade textiles, original paintings, pottery and more.

We have produced a booklet for the dinner, with details of the very impressive auction lots that have been donated for the event and thought I would include a preview for everyone to see. Although it’s a long list, it’s an impressive list of top quality seafood restaurants and accommodation (some of whom are sponsors of the hatchery), days out with a difference and as already mentioned, an array of beautiful local art.

Fishmongers Hall

AUCTION PRIZES

All successful bidders are invited for a VIP tour of the National Lobster Hatchery so that they can see first hand,the important work the charity is undertaking.

LOT 1 A PADSTOW Seafood extravaganza and Shopping spree

A fantastic package of dinner, bed and breakfast at the world famous Rick Stein Seafood Restaurant for two people.

 

Plus a £150 voucher to spend at W, Rig Marine or Riggers in Padstow.

Donated by Jill Stein www.rickstein.com and Teri Walter

LOT 2 A CASE OF CLARET, CHÂTEAU CANTEMERLE 2000

Twelve bottles of this fully mature, elegant 2000. Notes of forest floor, bay leaf, liquorice, red currants and cranberries are offered in a Burgundian-like, fresh, vibrant format. Consume over the next 7 to 8 years.

Donated by Martyn Hedley

LOT 3 An amazing ANYA HINDMARCH HANDBAG

Anya is recognised for her designer work throughout the fashion world. Anya started her fashion career 20 years ago in Florence and quickly went on to open 54 stores in 7 countries around the world. An Anya Hindmarch is a must have, for any lady. As seen on the shoulders of Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Angelina Jolie and Reese Witherspoon.

(The handbag shown is not necessarily the one to be auctioned)

Donated by Anya Hindmarch MBE www.anyahindmarch.com

LOT 4 A WEEK LONG LUXURY ROMANTIC BREAK IN PADSTOW FOR TWO

Harbour Holidays have given us their flagship, 5 star luxury accommodation ‘Puffin Cottage’ in the heart of Padstow for 1 week (available 2nd—30th March and 26th Oct—21st Dec 2012, subject to availability).

PLUS Champagne and a personal tour of Prideaux Place (Padstow’s beautiful stately home) with Peter and Elisabeth Prideaux-Brune

PLUS a guided tour of The Eden Project, lunch with Tim Smit (subject to availability) and leave with an Eden Goody bag

PLUS a meal for 2 in Nathan Outlaw’s Seafood & Grill.

Donated by :

Harbour Holidays and Jackie Stanley www.harbourholidays.co.uk

Peter and Elisabeth Prideaux-Brune www.prideauxplace.co.uk

Tim Smit www.edenproject.com

Nathan Outlaw www.nathan-outlaw.com

LOT 5 A Shooting day on the Boconnoc Estate

One gun at the Boconnoc Estate Shoot

A 200 bird day for one gun

A cooked lunch and light refreshments will be provided along with a delicious afternoon tea. A highly recommended and extremely popular shoot in the grounds of this exquisite 18th century house.

Donated by Tony Kennedy

Lot 6 A Clovelly Break

Take a step back in time with this fantastic weekend get away to Clovelly in North Devon.

Two nights, dinner, bed and breakfast for 2 at The Red Lion, right on the harbour front at this historical North Devon fishing village. The village is built into a 400ft high cliff famous for its donkeys that even today, are used to carry goods up the steep cobbled narrow paths. www.clovelly.co.uk

PLUS Entry for 2 to Rosemoor Gardens, a truly inspirational garden owned by the Royal Horticultural Society. www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Rosemoor

Donated by: Rt Hon John Rous, Clovelly Estate and RHS Rosemoor Gardens

Lot 7 AN Amazing Lobster Sculpture

This incredible sculpture has been specially made to be auctioned tonight, in order to support our work. Martiens has been creating sculptures out of what some might think of as scrap, for many years and has sold to the rich and famous. Kate Humble and Martin Hughes–Games to mention a couple.

Would look fabulous above the fire place or in your garden.

Donated by Martiens Bekker

http://sites.google.com/site/artrikascrapart/Home

LOT 8 LUXURY WEEKEND BREAK IN ROCK FOR TWO

A 2 night luxury break in an award winning location to include breakfast, 1 round of golf at St Enodoc Golf Course (overlooking the beautiful Camel estuary), a spa treatment at the Cow Shed at the St Moritz Hotel, a 3 course meal at the new No. 1 Rock Road Restaurant with Vintage Laurent-Perrier champagne and lunch at No. 1 Rock Road Restaurant.

A chance to stay at and be spoilt rotten at the amazing village of Rock on the North Coast of Cornwall.

This prize can be taken during the following months and must not include any bank holidays: April (not during Easter), May (not Whitsun), September, October (not half term), November.

www.waterfrontpolzeath.co.uk/No-1-Rock-Road/No-1-Rock-Road-Introduction.aspx

www.stmoritzhotel.co.uk/cowshed.htm

www.st-enodoc.co.uk

Donated by Jamie & Rhowan Yoki, “Number One Rock Road”

LOT 9 SIX MAGNUMS OF CHÂTEAU GRUAUD-LAROSE 2001

A classic!

Nose: Mint, eucalyptus, blueberries and some pencilly wood character with some confectionary aromas of vanilla and strawberry. Mouth: dark cherry, cassis, blackberry flavours. Very fine tannin (not chunky). Great length. Some pleasant earthy characters coming through on the finish. Still vibrant and could happily sit for another 5 years.

Donated by Martyn Hedley

Lot 10 A Paul Jackson Mackerel Bowl

Paul Jackson qualified in Studio Ceramics in 1977 at Harrow School of Art. Following a short period teaching in London, he relocated to Cornwall, where he established his pottery in 1979. He moved to his present home at Helland Bridge, where he works in a studio converted from an old chapel, in 1989. He has exhibited regularly and widely in both the UK and the US, and his work can be found in many major galleries.

www.paul-jackson.co.uk

Lot 11 A Rare days flyfishing on a chalk stream

A rare opportunity for a days fly fishing on a Wessex chalk stream. This amazing opportunity will see you fishing with the past President of the Flyfishers’ Club and will include a fantastic light lunch.

Donated by Mr Antony Pincent

LOT 12 A PORSCHE DRIVING DAY AT SILVERSTONE

A Porsche driving day for one person at Silverstone, to drive either the new 911 or Cayenne. You can opt for early breakfast, drive then lunch or lunch, drive and afternoon tea. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity. There is the option to take a friend at an additional cost.

Kindly donated by Porsche www.porsche.com

LOT 13 A Fabulous GREEK Villa FOR one week for 6 people

On the Island of Kefalonia, nestled on a hillside, standing majestically amongst ancient olive trees, fragrant wild herbs and flowers, you will find Villa Cyclamino.   Magnificent views overlook the tiny village of Katelios only a short stroll away, which is famous for its seafood tavernas, relaxed atmosphere and tiny fishing harbour. Available May and October. Donated by Liz Rogers

 

LOT 14 AN EXCLUSIVE WEEKEND IN LONDON for 2

With Hotel, Dinner and Theatre Tickets

Thank you to Sarah Coates who has put this fabulous package together and will co-ordinate your weekend for you. Andrew Collins is sponsoring dinner for 2 at the exclusive Nobu Japanese Restaurant on Park Lane, up to the value of £300.

Courtesy of a leading Actors Agency, Conway van Gelder Grant have offered Theatre tickets for 2 and are happy to discuss which show you would like tickets for.

Plus the promise of a fabulous hotel. There are last minute dealings to get a more exclusive hotel than we had originally confirmed.

www.conwayvangeldergrant.com

www.noburestaurants.com/london/experience/introduction/

Lot 15 A Dynasty DESIGNER DRESS

Dynasty, London’s Exclusive fashion house. Dynasty specialise in evening and cocktail dresses, prom, bridal and the Viviana Plus size collection. They are delighted to donate this dress to such a worthy cause. Visit the website to see all of the exciting collections and find the nearest stockists. Contact 020 8736 0200 and follow on Facebook and Twitter to see the celebrity following. Seen recently at the NTA and BAFTA awards!

Size 10, 12 or 14 available.

www.dynastyuk.co.uk

Donated by Dynasty of London, contact Vivien King-Lawless

LOT 16 A Jethro Jackson original

Jethro is a landscape painter and potter who was born and raised on the Cornish North Coast. This gives him an affinity and empathy with this most special of all coastlines and has allowed Jethro to capture the atmosphere of the local landscape in his original and sensitive works.

www.paul-jackson.co.uk/jethro.html

LOT 17 A CASE OF CHÂTEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE 2001, RED GRAVES

The 2001 is another beauty from this property. The impressive perfumed aromatics consisting of black raspberries, spring flowers, currants, graphite, and new oak are followed by an elegantly etched, medium bodied, moderately weighty Graves with abundant quantities of sweet fruit. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2015.

12 bottles

LOT 18 A SILVER MYSTERY

Finally …. a mystery auction lot to be revealed on the night.

Bidding starts at £10,000

 

 

RAFFLE PRIZES

Everyone can afford raffle tickets and the range of prizes is fantastic.  We specifically set out to showcase some of Cornwall’s inspirational art at this event with an array of materials and textures.

1. Padstow Mussel Company lobster print, by Susie Ray

2. Artist Easel box set

3. Hooper & Shaw print ‘a sailor went to sea sea sea’

4. Exeter Race Course Day for 2—Grandstand & Paddock admissions

5 Ian Burke, Art Master from Eton College – lobster print

6. Ian Burke, Art Master from Eton College – lobster print

7. Cliffside Gallery, Table mats & coasters by Katie Childs

8. St Justin necklace & bookmark (made from Cornish tin)

9. No raffle is complete without a fluffy toy, Ravensden grey seal pup

10. And a Ravensden clown fish

11. Jersey Pottery – lobster wall clock

12. Jersey Pottery – set of four dipping bowls & serving platter

13. Wave 7 Gallery – stained glass mirror

14. Signed Fish cookery book by Tom Aikens

15. Lobster meal for 2 including bottle of Chablis at Sankeys Pub, Seafood Brasserie & Oyster Bar, Royal Tunbridge Wells

16. Manicomio Restaurant - £125 voucher for lunch or dinner

17. Golf voucher worth £250, round of golf & light lunch at Swinley Forest Golf Club

18. VIP Tour of National Marine Aquarium Plymouth

19. Caroline Cleave handmade cushions & set of mugs

20. Poppy Treffry - handmade Teapot Cosy

21. 2 bottles of Louis Chaurey Champagne, kindly donated by Martyn Hedley

22. 2 bottles of Louis Chaurey Champagne, kindly donated by Martyn Hedley

23. 2 bottles of Louis Chaurey Champagne, kindly donated by Martyn Hedley

24. Magnum of Claret – Chateau Fonplegade 2001, donated by Martyn Hedley

25. Monty Halls signed DVD box set and 2 books, Great Irish Escape & Great Ocean Adventures, kindly donated by Monty Halls himself

26. Theatre Royal tickets for 2

27. Photographs by Leza Dondun

 

Special thanks

The National Lobster Hatchery is incredibly grateful to all of the individuals and organisations who have kindly provided auction prizes, raffle prizes or donations for this event, or have organised tables on our behalf.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the following individuals:

Mr Simon Potts, our auctioneer:

Mr Andrew Scott, our after dinner speaker

Mr Martyn Hedley who has championed this event from the start

Mr Steve Pini, Executive Chef and his team

We would also like to acknowledge the support of the following organisations, who have enabled the event to take place:

The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers

The Grocers Company

Marks and Spencer PLC

Monty Halls supports lobster hatchery at fundraising event

Friends and supporters of the National Lobster Hatchery were treated to an after-dinner speech from acclaimed media personality Monty Halls at the fabulous new No. 1 Rock Road Restaurant, with its stunning views across the Camel Estuary in Rock. The fundraising event, held on Friday 14^th of October, included a prize draw to determine the winner of a luxury two-night break on the Isles of Scilly, with flights courtesy of Skybus and accommodation provided by the beautiful Hell Bay Hotel on the island of Bryher, Isles of Scilly.

As if that and a fine two course meal wasn’t enough to keep guests entertained, those in attendance had the chance to meet guest speaker Monty Halls. Alongside his work as a marine biologist, writer and explorer, Monty presents his own TV series on BBC2, ‘Monty Halls Great Escapes’. Monty is currently filming in Cornwall for a new series that will be out in the Spring 2012 called The Big Catch, which will profile Monty living the life of a Cornish fisherman. Monty has an intimate knowledge of the importance of marine resource management and conservation, and was first approached to speak at the dinner by Hatchery General Manager Dom Boothroyd; while the pair released 1,600 juvenile lobsters together from a fishing vessel off the Lizard Peninsula!

Mr Boothroyd, speaking ahead of the fundraising evening, said, “2011 has been our charity’s most successful year ever; we’ve already released over 32,000 juvenile lobsters around Cornwall. Friday’s dinner is about celebrating that achievement and raising funds to help us continue our positive contribution to the sustainability of the Cornish lobster fishery. We’re hugely thankful to No.1 Rock Road for hosting us and to Skybus and the Hell Bay Hotel for their generosity in donating such a fantastic raffle prize, and I’m delighted that Monty Halls is taking valuable time out of his hectic schedule to come and support us.”

No.1 Rock Road opened earlier this year, and Ryan Wood, a Chef at the restaurant, said, “We’re proud to support a number of local charities, especially those that benefit the fishing community, and the National Lobster Hatchery does that. We always look to serve local, sustainably sourced seafood where possible, and for every half-lobster we sell here, we encourage the customer to make a £1 donation to the Hatchery, which we then match to cover the cost of a juvenile lobster being released back into Cornish waters.”

Clovelly Lobster & Crab Feast

A massive thank you to Clovelly Estate for their £400 donation from the Lobster & Crab Feast on the 4th September 2011.  We have been their chosen beneficiary for the last 3 years and this year was the best ever.  The weather was on our side (well until 2.30pm) and visitors turned up in their droves.

We had a lot of interest in our baby lobsters and a lot of returning customers who came to adopt another lobster.

With the help of John Balls and his fishing boat, we released another 1,349 baby lobsters 1/4 mile up the coastline, onto perfect lobster ground.

A beautiful location!  Our day started at 6am when we loaded the lobsters up at the hatchery and this photo was taken very early in the morning before the event got underway.

All the stalls run along the harbour wall.  I should have taken a photo when it was full (but we were too busy!).  That’s a good sign.

http://www.clovelly.co.uk/

ART EXHIBITION at the hatchery

For the next two weeks two of North Cornwall’s best and most respected artists will be exhibiting their work at the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow. Both artists live and work on the North Cornish coast and have a close affinity with the sea. The exhibition is an opportunity for visiting members of the public to come and see some amazing marine related art.

The two artists are Martiens Bekker and Caroline Cleave; Caroline has lived in Port Isaac, Cornwall for over twenty years and is passionate about design and draws her inspiration from the grand coastline and the intimate detail of the countryside on the North Cornish coast. Having a degree in art and having taught and been regularly involved with Cornish Festivals, she brings this experience to the pieces she creates. Her love of textiles, colour and scale are a constant feature and her larger works are permanently exhibited at the Eden Project. She is also regularly commissioned to illustrate and her detailed designs have been recently used by the Lobster Hatchery in their new children’s book `Claude gets his Claws` which is available in the gift shop.

Her work is created in her studio which is located in her tranquil valley garden in the village and sold through the `BOATHOUSE` which is the business she shares with her husband Jon Cleave . The Boathouse lies in the heart of Port Isaac and sells an eclectic mix of Coastal Cornish living.

Sculptor, Martiens Bekker creates his art using discarded and unwanted materials salvaged from across Cornwall, sifting through the swathes of society’s detritus he identifies ‘rubbish’ condemned before its time and resurrects it for a second chance. His work is inspired by the natural beauty of Cornwall and his native South Africa, by the wonder and confusion of human nature and of course by the scrap itself which typically dictates its own regeneration. Martiens endeavours to demonstrate through his work that our throw away culture, whilst keeping him employed, has brought us to the brink of catastrophe, and that only through a sincere and considered appreciation of our magnificent planet and all it provides can we ever hope to save it. We once valued the world beyond its worth and Martiens hopes his art will play a small role in the realisation that things must change.

Funds raised by any sales from the exhibition will include a donation towards the National Lobster Hatcheries charitable conservation, education and research work.

The exhibition will be held in the Kemp Room (named after former Padstow Mayor: Sid Kemp) The exhibition will run from Saturday the 6^th August until Sunday 21^st August and entry to the exhibition is free.

The National Lobster Hatchery’s General Manager Dominic Boothroyd explained: “This is the first time that we have held an exhibition at the centre and it is brilliant that two such amazingly talented artists want to exhibit here. It is even better that they want to donate some of the proceeds to our on-going charitable work.”

THE BIG SWIM CORNWALL 7th AUGUST 2011

Registration is open for this lovely event, if you fancy the challenge of a one mile wild swim from Port Gaverne to Port Isaac.  Make a day of it, there’ll be plenty of entertainment, live music, food to sample and pubs at hand following the swim.

The official website is www.thebigswimcornwall.co.uk and you can register and pay on-line through our website Little Shop of Lobsters

See you there, fingers crossed for perfect weather conditions!

Bivalve Purification Operations Seafish/REHIS approved course

For all bivalve purification and dispatch centres in the UK
• Designed to meet the needs of the live bivalve mollusc sector
• An essential step towards producing Safer Seafood
• An excellent course for both new starters and experienced staff and managers
• Delivered by approved and experienced trainers
• Nationally recognised
• 4+ hr taught theory course
• Seafish funding support may be available

There are two training centres that are approved to deliver this training course.
• The Scottish Shellfish Training Centre;
• The Southern Shellfish Training Centre, venue National Lobster Hatchery

Posters attached for full details

Wild Swim from Port Gaverne to Port Isaac

Put the date in your diary and plan your holiday to Cornwall for that week.  This years wild swim from Port Gaverne to Port Isaac will be held on 7th August 2011, raising money for the National Lobster Hatchery.

The event started last year and was such a success, organisers have decided to make it an annual event; only this year it’ll be bigger and better.

The actual swim is said to be 1 mile, round a beautiful bit of coastline, ending up at Port Isaac (a very quaint little Cornish harbour).  The Fisherman’s Friends are rumoured to be performing on stage, we will have our baby lobsters on display and there will be stalls and food to hand.  Not to mention the scattering of pubs next to the beach.

The official event website will be going live very soon so I will keep you informed.  I might even dig out a photo of Dom and I having completed the swim last year!

Padstow Christmas Festival this weekend

Padstow Christmas Festival is approaching 3rd, 4th & 5th December and we are promised a SNOWFALL SURPRISE this year - intrigued? Although at this rate we’ll have real snow!  Get in the festive mood with late night shopping, Santa's grotto, carol singing, beer festival, live music, cooking demonstrations, fireworks, parade, workshops for children and don't forget to come and see us!

FREE CHILD ADMISSION at the Hatchery with every full paying adult for the 3 days of the Festival.

Winner of our star raffle prize

Congratulations to Hazel Thwaites from Surrey who won the amazing raffle prize of 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast and flights to the Isles of Scilly, staying at the luxurious Hell Bay Hotel.  Thank you to the sponsors of the raffle, Hell Bay Hotel and Isles of Scilly Travel.  We were able to raise £1,500 from raffle sales.

The raffle was drawn at our Race Night at The Old Custom House in Padstow, thank you to Linda who let us take over the pub.  We had a really fun evening and some of the luckier people went home with winnings, others, like myself bet on all the losing horses!  We did another raffle on the night with all the the losing tickets from the races because Bedruthan Steps Hotel had heard about our fundraising evening and sent us a beautiful package for a spa day for 2.  Sue Gregory was the lucky winner.

Thank you also to The Metropole Hotel who sponsored a race.

Eddie Gilbert’s to sponsor lobster release for British Food Fortnight

Ramsgate’s award-winning Eddie Gilbert’s restaurant is celebrating British Food Fortnight (18^th September to 3^rd October) by sponsoring The National Lobster Hatchery.

Each time customers order Eddie Gilbert’s seafood platter, the restaurant will donate £1 to the Hatchery. The platter, which costs £36, for two, includes a whole lobster, a dressed crab, smoked salmon, oysters, crevettes, cockles, ceviche of scallop and brown shrimps.

“We have always been focused on sourcing the freshest, highest quality seafood, sourced as locally as possible – we don’t sell exotic endangered species like blue fin tuna,” said proprietor Jonny Dunhill, who also owns the wet fish shop and gourmet fish and chips takeaway that operate at street level beneath the first floor restaurant. “It’s in the businesses’ long-term interests to promote sustainable fishing.”

Check out their sample menus - the food looks fantastic!

Another date for your diary - Clovelly Lobster & Crab Feast

Sunday 5th September 2010 10am to 5pm at Clovelly Harbour, North Devon – Clovelly is a must see on its own merit, a hidden treasure.

Clovelly Estate holds a festival each year to  pay tribute to Clovelly's famous lobsters and crabs with a day of live folk music, a lobster hypnotist, quay kitchen, wine and beer tasting, local food stalls, prize draw, arts and crafts stalls, live exhibits, photographic exhibition and entertainment for the children too. 

Last year and this year, the money raised will be donated to the National Lobster Hatchery.  We will will be releasing baby lobsters just beyond the harbour and we will have a stand on the quay where you can come and see our baby lobsters up close and personal, adopt your own lobster or buy some lobster goodies.

The Red Lion Harbour bar will be offering delicious seafood, crab and lobster platters, each with a complimentary glass of champagne, for £14.95.

See you there!

Clovelly Harbour, North Devon

RACE NIGHT AT OLD CUSTOM HOUSE, PADSTOW

We’re organising another fund raising event with a difference.  Do you fancy your luck on the races?  The event will take place at the Old Custom House in Padstow on Friday 8th October 2010 from 8pm onwards.  We will be hosting an entertaining evening of horse racing, you will be able to bet on choosing the winning horse for each race.

Entry is free, you don’t need to book.  Just come along, support our baby lobsters, have fun and go home with your winnings.

We will also be having another raffle but this time there is only one prize and it’s sensational!  Imagine yourself and someone special to you, flying over to the Isles of Scilly and staying for two luxurious nights at the exclusive Hell Bay Hotel on Bryher.  Tickets are on sale now for the raffle, so please phone us on 01841 533877 and we can take your payment over the phone.  Tickets cost £1 each.

We are also offering businesses the chance to sponsor a race, there will only be 8 races so don’t delay.  For £30, a race will be named after your business, so for instance ‘the Padstow Bakery Derby’ and the business names will appear on the race card.

Thank you to the sponsors of the event: The Old Custom House, Hell Bay Hotel, Isles of Scilly Travel.

Fishermans Friends

Just to say we raised £450.32 on the night, so thank you to the Fishermans Friends of Port Isaac who sang in aid of the hatchery and our baby lobsters.  It was a brilliant night, great singing, the sun shone and the sunset finished off a perfect evening.

Fishermans Friends sing in aid of the Lobster Hatchery. Come and join us on the Platt at Port Isaac – not to be missed FRIDAY 11th JUNE 2010

You will have heard of Fishermans Friends by now, with their recent success of attracting a £1 million record deal with Universal.  Or may be you have been lucky enough to hear them sing on the Platt on a summer evening at Port Isaac, with the fishing boats and beach as a back drop.

It really is a magical experience, pint in hand and singing along to the sea shanties.  They start at 8pm no matter what the weather.  See you there.

Rock Oyster Festival June 2010

Get the date in your diaries and check out the website for more detail. 

Porthilly Farm in Rock will play host to the inaugural Rock Oyster Festival over the weekend of 19th – 20th June this year. The festival is being organised by a team of locals whose passion for the shellfish of the Cornish coast has convinced them to hold an event which celebrates and champions the sustainable seafood.
This will be the first oyster festival ever on the North coast of Cornwall.

http://www.cornwalls.co.uk/events/2010-06-19-rock-oyster-festival-2010.htm

Pescadou Spring Fund raising event – 26th March 2010

It’s tomorrow – the event is upon us.  We are completely sold out and so only those that have pre-booked their tickets will be allowed entry. 

Just to confirm that arrival time is 7pm for a 7.30pm start.  Pescadou Restaurant is next door to The Old Custom House on Padstow Harbour.  The itinerary is as follows:

1. Dom, General Manager of the Hatchery to give an introductory speech
2. Three Course Meal
3. Handing over to John Cleave to do the Auction
4. Cabaret
5. Raffle Draw

Feel free for a glimpse of the menu, auction and raffle prizes by clicking on the above links.

Fundraising Event for the Hatchery at the Pescadou Restaurant

The Lobster Hatchery is holding another fund raising event at the Pescadou Restaurant in Padstow.  This year the tickets will cost £29.50 per person.  For this, Pescadou will provide a three course dinner and a glass of wine, followed by a cabaret.

Last years event was a huge success and raised over £2000 for the hatchery from ticket sales and the auction. We had some amazing prizes last year and are doing our best to put on another exciting selection of packages to bid for.

The hatchery will receive half of the proceeds from the ticket sales plus the profits from the auction. Our aim this year is to improve on last years success both in numbers attending and the amount raised.

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Starters

Pescadou Crab and crayfish gumbo with rouille parmesan crouton

Home oak smoked chicken with a pineapple salsa and minted crème fraiche

Indian Spiced smoked haddock kedgeree topped with a poached free-range egg

Mains

Roast chunky fillet of hake over bouillabaisse of clams and mussels

Roast duck breast on a colcannon potato, kale and blueberry port reduction

Thai vegetable curry with a coconut rice cake and char grilled lime and melon salsa

Sides

Minted Cornish new potatoes

Baby Carrots in tarragon butter

Purple sprouting broccoli with toasted pine nuts

Desserts

Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce, sherried sultanas and clotted cream

Vanilla Crème Brulee with roast plum compote and rich chocolate shortbread

A selection of Cornish cheeses with Healey's cider farm chutney and wheat crackers

Larry entertains the crowds at Newlyn Fish Festival

Another busy fish festival at Newlyn, adopt a lobster was as popular as ever and people always like to see our baby lobsters.  This year Larry entertained the crowds, giving all the children high fives.