South West Sardine Festival

In Spain and Portugal – from Candás to Lisbon – sardine season is a momentous occasion. Streets come alive with communal tables, sizzling BBQs, live music, fireworks and a real sense of celebration. Entire communities gather to honour the arrival of this humble yet magnificent fish…

A free event on August 3rd from 12-9:30pm on Brixham Harbourside
No ticket needed, just turn up and soak up the atmosphere.
Food and drink can be purchased on the day.

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The British sardine is abundant, delicious, and sustainable. Yet, it’s underappreciated.

Brixham, a town steeped in maritime history, is the perfect setting for a bold new tradition:

So what’s in store for Brixham?

Communal tables on the Harbourside in Brixham.

The aroma of fresh seafood filling the streets.

The streets buzzing with music – live bands, street entertainers, magicians and kids activities throughout the day.

A nod to tradition, a celebration of the season, and an invitation to embrace British seafood like never before.

3rd August 2025

12 – 9:30pm Fish Market

Look at who’s going to be cooking on the grill…

Mitch Tonks

Jane Baxter

Nathan Outlaw

Matt Tebbutt

Jack Stein

Mark Hix

Steven Lamb

Rich Adams

Ben Tonks

Kirk Gosden

FAQ’s

Do I need to buy a ticket?

No ticket is needed to join us on August 3rd — simply come along and enjoy the live music and festival atmosphere!

We’ll have seating for over 400 people, with two pre-booked dining sessions running from 12:00 to 3:00pm. Outside of these times, the communal tables are open to anyone enjoying a plate of sardines from our festival BBQ grills.

Additional unreserved seating will also be available from 12:00 for those eating with us on the day.

What's on the menu?

We are serving only 1 item at the festival. You guessed it! Fresh chargrilled sardines with salad and a roll.

Where to park?

For those attending by car, the Park and Ride near Churston is available. From there, you can catch the No. 12 bus into Brixham, which runs frequently (up to every ten minutes).

Visitors who wish to park in Brixham are advised to use the long-stay Brixham Marina car park. Brixham also has a centrally located ‘short stay’ car park. We recommend this car park for Blue Badge holders or individuals with limited mobility, as it serves as an ideal central drop-off point.

Can I bring my dog?

The Fish Market has strict rules around dogs on the quayside but there is a section just out the front of Rockfish that is welcome to dogs so you will still be able to hear the music and purchase some food and drink if you want to bring a dog with you.

Some areas will not be accessible to you though