Iconic seafood banquet brings Emsworth together on quay

The community seafood lunch was dished up to 82 people on Emsworth quay on Sunday, as part of the town’s British Food Fortnight.

Some of the town’s finest chefs came together to serve the three-course banquet on the picturesque quayside.

Eighty-two guests clubbed together to raise more than £500 for homeless charity Stonepillow – Emsworth Business Association’s charity of the year.

Organiser Alistair Gibson said: ‘Anticipation seemed to build as the day grew closer and diners were not disappointed. It was a wonderful celebration of what Emsworth has to offer, a real foodie destination in a magnificent location with a community wanting to give back and support a great local charity.’

The guests tucked in to a starter of salmon cured in Twisted Nose, a dry gin distilled in Winchester.

It was followed by a main course of baked bream, with crushed peas, new potatoes and a seaweed and brown shrimp butter.

The banquet was topped off with a seaside favourite – a cone of Northney ice cream.

Fat Olives restaurant co-owner Lawrence Murphy collaborated with Brookfield Hotel chef Jon Scourfield, the Blue Bell Inn’s Giles Babb, and Gary Pearce from Restaurant 36 on the Quay.

Lawrence said: ‘It was a fantastic day with a real community spirit. It was nice to have all the different chefs helping out, we had a bit of a laugh in the kitchen.’

Jackie and David Baynes, from Old Portsmouth, won a competition by The News for two seats at the table.

Jackie said: ‘The lunch went really well, even the weather played its part and the sun shone.

‘All the food was delicious – both my husband and I like fish so we really enjoyed it all.’