Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August 2025
Thousands of people ate, drank, danced and shopped at the fifth Maryport Taste of the Sea festival this weekend.
The event was the biggest yet – spread over two sites, right around the town’s historic waterfront. It used the new Harbourside event space, created as part of Cumberland Council’s £12 million regeneration projects, and the Marine Road showfield.
The festival also marked the official opening of the new event space, where international chef Jack Stein, son of TV star Rick Stein, and Cartmel’s Masterchef winner Irini Tzortzoglou, were both showcasing their skills. Elsewhere in the festival, there was a big Producers’ Market, packed with local food and drink, two stages for live entertainment, and a lively Rum Bar, run by the team from Maryport Round Table.
The team from Chelaris fishing boat were selling their catch, many traders, including the Oyster Bar, sold out twice, and the Teenage Market and TEG Retail stalls were also doing brisk trade.
Ten of Maryport’s brilliant businesses, many of which have benefited from shopfront grants as part of the Council’s regeneration work, also took part in a Postcard Trail featuring scenes from the past and promoting Maryport Maritime Museum ahead of its opening this Autumn.
None of this could happen without a massive team effort. The Taste Cumbria festivals are organised by Cumberland Council and Taste of the Sea’s major sponsor is Maryport Town Council. Thank you also to the other 2025 sponsors, Milburns Solicitors, Grants Oak Smoked, Thomas Armstrong Construction and Forth Engineering, and our supporters Maryport Business Group, Maryport Round Table and Maryport Harbour Authority.
Take a wander around Maryport’s great independent businesses, spot the postcards from Maryport Maritime Museum on display, and add it to your Maritime Museum Trail entry form.
Forms will be available from the festival Info Point on the Marina site and you can return your completed entries to the same place.
Elsewhere in town there are even more things to see and do, including live music in many of the pubs in the evenings.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“What a weekend! It is fantastic to see the Taste Cumbria events getting bigger and better and bringing millions of pounds into the local economy. Thank you to the people of Maryport for really getting behind Taste of the Sea and making us so welcome.
“The biggest vote of thanks has to go to our event team, volunteers, sponsors and supporters. Many months of work goes into staging these festivals and their dedication makes it all possible.”
Taste of the Sea Info Point – meet the Maryport Regeneration Team, pick up your Postcard Trail entry forms, write a Message to Maryport and discover what’s on where
All Things Nice by Ashley – bespoke resin gifts, jewellery and homeware
Brine & Smoke – hot oak smoked Scottish salmon
Chelaris – fish and seafood, caught and sold fresh from the boat (they usually sell out on Saturday!)
The Chippie Van – the mobile team from Penrith’s Angel Lane fish and chip shop
Chloe’s Chateau – handmade gifts, cards and goodies
Cumbrian Coastal Kitchen – 100% natural preserves, sauces and fruit vinegars
Cumbria Police – meet the Rural Crime Team for crime-busting advice
Cumberland Council Waste Reduction Team – great tips to cut waste and save money
The Cumbrian Boerewors Company – traditional South African cuisine
The Curiosity Shop Maryport – quirky gifts and homewares
Daisy Design – engraved products and create bespoke
The Doggy Deli – natural healthy dog treats
Enchanted to Bead You – affordable handmade friendship bracelets
FellBar – West Cumbria’s fresh home-baked flapjack oat bars
Freya Mae Arts – pet portrait and wildlife artist
Fresh Olives – olives of all shapes and sizes!
Hallsford Catering – fantastic farm produce, freshly cooked burgers and hot dogs
Haverigg Smokery – meats and fish from HMP Haverigg’s smokery
Handmade by You – Maryport craft shop selling fabric, wool, buttons, ribbons and more
The Hedgehog Bakery – tasty cakes and treat boxes
Honeybee Artisan – handmade soap and skincare products with a honeybee twist
Kick Ass Cheese – a big range of waxed Cheddar cheeses
Kin Vodka – delicious toffee vodka, toffee apple vodka and gifts
Lake District Posters – 1930s style railway posters with a contemporary twist
Lakeland Artisan – hand-crafted food and drink using all natural ingredients
Lal Yan Coffee Van – Espresso based beverages made with local organic milk and locally roasted beans
Laverock Hampers – ultimate destination for personalised gifts! We specialise in bespoke hampers
Legendary Sauce Company – handcrafted sauces, salts and more
Love at First Bite by Amber – buttercream occasion cakes, cupcakes and traybakes
Lucela’s – award winning chocolate rum
Manor Barn Organics – aromatherapy products, gifts and homeware
Maryport Born & Bread – artisan bakery producing sourdough, focaccia and more
Melting Moon – illustrated stationery, stickers and gifts
Warwick Bridge Cornmill – handground flours, breads and baked treats
The Zero Pantry – all your pantry needs and cleaning products, free of plastic
Meraki Sprinkles – Cockermouth’s bespoke cupcakes and treats
Mr Vikki’s – multi award winning Indian hot chilli pickle, chutney and sauce producer
The Oyster & Ceviche Bar – fabulous fresh seafood
Pie Demand – luxury topped pork pies, traditional meat pies and sausage rolls
The Little Poffertje Pancake Shack – Dutch street food treats
Portobello Wood Fired – Maryport’s authentic rustic wood-fired pizza
Really Indian – handcrafted fresh sauces
Rosehill Theatre – Whitehaven’s brilliant arts venue
Sea Fish – meet the team helping the UK fish industry to thrive
Shaw Meats – game meats and gluten-free products including salami and charcuterie
Sipping Fox Lake District Drinks – premium small-batch spirits and fine wines
Soak & Fizz – handmade and vegan bath products
Solway Firth Partnership – the independent charity protecting our amazing coastline
Stonehouse Smokery – artisan curers, smokers & roasters
Sunrise Patisserie – handmade authentic pastéis de nata
Sweet Treats by Martin Frickel – naughty brownies, banging blondies and more
Three Hills Gelato – crafted with organic milk and cream from happy, pasture-fed cows
The Yolker – handmade gourmet Scotch eggs
NEW for 2025, The Teenage Market will be on the Harbourside event space throughout Taste of the Sea weekend
Saturday 9 August
Artistic Anya
Coastal Bracelets
Creative Creations by Anya
Cumbria Coastal Crafts
Esme’s 3D Creations
Fellcraft
GB 3D Prints
Homemade by Angel
Jaxson’s Sweet Treats
Keeva’s Crafts
Made by JJA
Natalie’s Sewing Bee
The Victorian Candle Co
Whimsical Fairies
Yummi by Lucy
Sunday 10 August
Aerin Designs
Artistic Anya
Blue Zebra Art
Coastal Bracelets
Cumbria Coastal Crafts
Cumberland Youth Services
Esme’s 3D Creations
Homemade by Angel
Imperfect Creations
Josie’s Bracelets
Keeva’s Crafts
Madmarras
Made by JJA
Maryport Cobbles
MJ Designs
Events & Live Music
11am – Jack Stein
1pm – Irini Tzortzoglou
3pm – John Crouch
11am – Stuart from Maryport Born & Bread
1pm – Scottish Seafood Ambassador CJ Jackson
2:30pm – John Crouch
10:30am – Ewanrigg Choir
12pm – Ragged Edge Productions
2pm – Flimby Male Voice Choir
4pm – Ragged Edge Productions
10:30am – Ragged Edge Productions
12pm – The Shanty Band
2pm – Ragged Edge Productions
3pm – Whitehaven Shanty Band
10am – Char
11am – Rina
12pm – Liam Moorhouse
1pm – A66
2pm – Steel Foxes
3pm – The Antics
4pm – Misfitz
5pm –The Buyers Club
6pm – Totally Blondie
10:00 – Char
11am – 11:45 – Luke Matear
12pm – The Syndicate
1pm – Solomon
2pm – Over Yonder
3pm – Johnny Morton
Free park-and-ride on heritage buses
Charity stalls, bar and refreshments.
Saturday 9 August, 10am to 4pm
Netherhall Rugby Club
with Lost in Stone
At The Settlement
Taste Cockermouth – 27 & 28 September 2025
Taste Carlisle – 1 & 2 November 2025
Taste Christmas – 6 & 7 December 2025
Getting here
The nearest mainline train station is Carlisle – change here for the train to Maryport on the Cumbrian Coast Line. If you are travelling by car, follow the A595 from Carlisle, or leave the M6 at junction 42, take the A595 or A596 west and you should be here in just less than an hour. Here’s the bus timetable. And here’s a link to trains.
Travelling to our Maryport festival on 10/11 August? Here’s a handy link to the car parks. If you’re parking on the street, please check local signs for restrictions. You’ll need a timing disc for many of them – these are available from many local businesses.
Make a weekend of it by booking some accommodation. West Cumbria has an excellent range of accommodation from hotels, campsites and B&Bs to self catering. And don’t forget to visit the wealth of independent businesses in Maryport.
