On 30^th April 2023, Salcombe Crabfest returns for its annual extravaganza of crab-themed fun! Run by a committee of volunteers from The Rotary Club of Salcombe, this popular event brings together the fabulous Salcombe community in celebration of its incredible fishing and tourism industries. Salcombe’s brown crab is some of the most delicious found anywhere in the world, and what better way to honour this wonderful commodity and the place it is caught, than with its very own dedicated day.

All are welcome at this one-day festival, where action and entertainment is guaranteed from morning till night, throughout the town. The main Creek Car Park is transformed, with a Chefs’ Demo Marquee taking centre stage. In its beautiful position on the edge of the Salcombe estuary, there is simply nowhere better to settle down and watch the line-up of fantastic chefs create sensational crab-themed dishes. Of course the demos wouldn’t be complete without the perfect accompaniment… hilarious commentary by BBC Radio Devon’s David Fitzgerald!

Other highlights include a bustling street market which takes over Island Street. With this area pedestrianised for one day only, shoppers can enjoy a unique experience, browsing both the superb range of market stalls and exploring the eclectic mix of retailers found here – from handmade bags to artisan gin, art galleries to a chocolate factory.

With children’s entertainment, local musicians, not to mention an impressive variety of food and drink to enjoy, this is a great family day out. There will be a wealth of tasty crab options too – whether you are looking for a fresh crab to take home for supper, a crab sandwich or perhaps a crab pasty! Getting to the event is easy too; the free park and ride means accessing the town couldn’t be simpler.

Sponsored by Devon Rum, Coast & Country Cottages, and Marchand Petit, this fantastic day out is completely free to attend. Salcombe Crabfest is run entirely in aid of charity, and since it began has raised over £50,000 helping a variety of local and national good causes. These include Devon Air Ambulance, Cancer Research, The Triangle Cancer Support Centre and many more.

In 2023, the chosen charities are Devon Mind, Chill South Devon and Devon Air Ambulance, and there will be collection buckets throughout the event for any donations you might like to make. We look forward to welcoming you all on 30^th April 2023.

Although we had to change the venue from the car park to Cliff House we had a lovely time singing along to the silver band, I’m sure the mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies helped a little, we’ve had a word with Santa and he’s promised dry weather for next year! Thank you to everyone involved and of course all those who came to sing!

We’ve over 80 exhibitors attending Salcombe Crabfest in addition to Salcombe’s resident retailers who’ll also be open for business on Sunday. Together, they’ll be serving up an unrivalled mix of locally produced food, drink, artisan crafts, clothing, gifts, activities and escapes.

Pop-up stalls will be located in Creek Car Park, Whitestrand and along Island Street.

This year’s exhibitors include: Adventure South Artisan Chocolates The Axle Tramps – Retro and Classic Enthusiasts Club Bell and LoxtonCootealicious Gone Crabbing Hook, Line & Fishfinger I Saw It FirstNorsworthy Photography Salcombe Brew Salcombe Gin Sharpham Wine and Cheese South Devon & Channel Shellfishermen The Salcombe Meat Company The Oyster Shack Bigbury Vintage Silver Workshop

For a full list list of exhibitors go to: salcombecrabfest.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitors

Travelling by car to Salcombe Crabfest this Sunday?

Please park in the Town Council Park and Ride car park situated as you come into the town on the Salcombe Road (A381) at the junction of Main Road and Bonfire Hill (pay and display – £3 all day) and use the special Crabfest bus shuttle (free – donations welcome) into town.

Once the Council Park and Ride car park is full, we will operate an overflow car park accessed off the main road (free – donations welcome) and the Crabfest bus shuttle will operate from and to this car park as well.

The bus shuttle will drop festival goers at Creek Car Park on Gould Road providing easy access to the heart of the festival.

The bus shuttle service starts at 0930. BBC1 Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt will open the festival at 10.00 at the Chefs’ Demo Tent in Creek Car Park – see you there!

The programme can found for free all over Salcombe, at the event or downloaded from https://salcombecrabfest.co.uk/programme

The Rivermaid (http://kingsbridgesalcombeferry.co.uk/ ) will be doing a special Crabfest Ferry Service.
It will leave Kingsbridge at 09.15 prompt on Sunday 5th May, taking Charlie the Crab and her little nipper, Baby Crab to Salcombe with a return run to Kingsbridge at 1600.
Great to see the ferry back on the water for this special event🦀🙂🦀

If anyone is wondering where all the money goes here is a list of the good causes Salcombe Rotary have supported since the first Crabfest three years ago:

Kaleidoscope Disabled Football
Practice Goal KMU
Young Salcombe Centre
Salcombe Regatta
Salcombe Air Ambulance Landing Lights
Salcombe Minibus
Malborough Air Ambulance Landing Lights
Salcombe Preschool
Salcombe RFC Minis Shirts
New Salcombe/Hope Cove First Responder Car
Salcombe Brownies
Cliff House Trust
Defibrillator Fish Quay 
Defibrillator North Sands
Defibrillator South Sands
Air Training Corps (Tablets)
Hope Cove Lifeboat
Salcombe Town Xmas Lights
Hope Cove Reading Room

In addition to the above local support we have also supported other causes, ROTOPROJ which is a Kingsbridge Estuary initiative that brings up to 600 disabled people from all over the Southwest down to the fair in Kingsbridge on the Sunday morning of fair week, Shelterbox, Chernobyl children’s holiday – there are a large number of children in the area of Chernobyl that are still suffering the effects of radiation and a charity brings over the children for a holiday as well as medical, dental and optical care and Plymouth Hospital ICT.

As an organisation we are always willing to consider any good cause that helps the local community of Salcombe, Malborough and Hope Cove.

Thank you to everyone that has helped us support the above and many more over the years.

This year’s Crabfest will be on Sunday 5th of May – Don’t miss it! If you need a reminder of how fantastic this event is have a look at this video of last year’s event.

The Rotary Club of Salcombe

Collecting for local charities

Santa’s float route Tuesday 18^TH Dec 2018

5:00 – 5:10 pm   Alston Gate  

5:15 – 5:30pm    Cumber Close East

5:35 – 5:40pm    Malborough Park

5:45 – 5:55pm    Jubilee Road

5:55 – 6:05 pm   Collaton Rd

6:05 – 6:10 pm   Lower town

6:15 – 6:25 pm   Malborough green and great park

6:30 – 6:45 pm   Malborough Higher Town (Inc Old Inn & Royal Oak )

6.50 – 7:00 pm   Mcllwraith Road  (Batson High View)

7:05 – 7:25 pm   Bonfire Hill Ember Road

7:30 – 7 -40 pm  Beadon – Longfield Drive Cul-de –sac Beadon Road

7:40 – 7-45 pm   Park Rise Junction  

7:50 – 7:55 pm   St Dunstan’s Road    Camperdown Road Junction

8:00 – 8:10 pm   Salcombe Rugby Club

8:15 – 9:00 pm   Salcombe Fore St (Inc The Fort, Kings Arms, & Vic)

Salcombe Tourist Information and the Salcombe Christmas Lights Committee in conjunction with Salcombe Rotary Club.

After the Christmas Lights switch on at 6pm on Colemans Corner there will be a procession to Whitestrand Car Park where the Rotary Christmas tree will be switched on at 6.25pm.

There will be a Santa’s Grotto, inflatable slide and a number of charity stalls manned by worthy local charities.

This event is sponsored by Salcombe Holiday Homes, Victoria Inn and the Salcombe Harbour Hotel.