The local Bexhill Observer reports:
Organisers of the second Bexhill Sea Angling Festival say preparations are going well, but they would still welcome any sponsors or stall holders.
The festival has two parts: a series of angling competitions based at Bexhill Sea Angling Club and an open event on the stunning £5million exhibition space in front of the De La Warr Pavilion.
The fun starts this year on Saturday and Sunday, September 8 and 9, with food and games for all on the festival lawns on the seafront and the festival aims to blend angling with the current fashion and passion for cooking and seafood.
Festival goers will be able to watch demonstrations from top chefs and pick up cooking hints and tips and throughout the weekend, Angling Trust coaches will be on hand in the ‘coaching zone’ to assist newcomers to the sport with advice and demonstrations.
This year, the festival also has the support of angling ‘celebrity’ Keith Arthur, who has agreed to become a patron.
The festival retains the support of the Angling Trust and Rother District Council, which has invested £10,000 into the event. Organised and run by a number of local anglers, the Bexhill Sea Angling Club and Bexhill fishing tackle shop, ‘Hook, Line & Sinker’, the festival aims to promote angling as a pastime, highlight the excellent fishing around the Sussex coast and make the link between sustainable fishing and healthy eating. This is a not-for-profit event.
Six angling competitions will take place over the week, with prizes include a fishing holiday in Norway and a £500 cash prize for the biggest fish.
An estimated 10,000 people attended last year’s festival and the organising committee wants to beat that figure this year.
Festival chairman Steve Hanks said:
“Things are going well and we’re confident the festival will top last year’s event, which so many people from Bexhill and the surrounding towns enjoyed.
We still have sponsorship opportunities and places for stalls available, so if you would like your business to reach a huge family audience, please get in touch.”
Interested businesses can contact: bexhillseaanglingfestival@hotmail.com and event sponsors include: 1066 Country Marketing, Hook Line and Sinker tackle shop, Bexhill Sea Angling Club, Bexhill Chamber of Commerce, Hastings Direct, Discover Bexhill, Lloyds TSB, Tesco, County Clean, the Dunselma, Curves, Nordic Sport Fishing, Cono-Flex and Sussex Angling Media.
For more information and for details on how to enter the competitions the Bexhill Sea Angling Festival website
The festival can also be followed on Twitter @bexhillfishfest or ‘Liked’ via its own Facebook page.
