A FLAVOURFUL line-up of leading regional chefs, including the owner of one of Yorkshire’s six Michelin-starred restaurants, will be tickling the tastebuds of visitors to this year’s annual maritime festival in Scarborough, Seafest.

The 17th annual festival takes place from July 24 to 26 promises a dazzling programme of events and builds on last year’s hugely successful festival.

James Mackenzie, chef owner of the Pipe and Glass Inn at South Dalton, near Beverley, will be demonstrating in the Seafest Food Theatre at 12.30pm on Sunday, July 26.

Joining him throughout the weekend will be:

l Tristan Prudden, from the recently-opened Garden Rooms at Tennants of Leyburn (10.30am on Saturday, July 25 and 3.30pm on Sunday, July 26);

l Martyn Hyde, of Scarborough’s award-winning Eat Me Café, the Good Food Guide’s Café of the Year in 2014 (11.30am on Saturday and Sunday);

l Great British Menu regular Stephanie Moon, from Rudding Park (12.30pm on Saturday);

l Seafish’s National Seafood Chef of the Year Rob Green, from Whitby’s Green’s Restaurant (1.30pm on Saturday and Sunday);

l Jason Moore, head chef at Chaloner’s Restaurant, Gisborough Hall (2.30pm on Saturday and Sunday);

l Dan Hargreaves, head chef at The Grainary, Harwood Dale, and master cider brewer (3.30pm on Saturday);

l Paul Jackson, from the award-winning Hare Inn at Scawton, near Helmsley (10.30am on Sunday).

Highlights of this year’s event will again be co-ordinated by Scarborough’s arts and cultural development agency, Create, and will also include workshops and a performance by Leeds-band Hope and Social, headliners at last year’s Yorkshire Festival; poetry from A Firm of Poets; street theatre from the Artizani Theatre Company, Artemis Lion Fish and Talking Birds, and a new arts marquee, with free drop-in arts sessions and story-telling.

There will also be rock-pooling and fossil-hunting walks from Hidden Horizons, a line-up of leading chefs from around the region giving cookery demonstrations, a full programme of music headed by DJ Tooley and the traditional blessing of the boats.

Janet Deacon, North Yorkshire area director for Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “The demonstrations by some of the best chefs from around our region are always a highlight of Seafest and really get the mouth watering. We recommend arriving early to bag a seat.”

Councillor Janet Jefferson, chairman of the Seafest steering group, said: “Seafest celebrates the sea and all it has provided to our community, not least the wonderful seafood.

“We’re very grateful to the many sponsors, and for the support and hard work of dedicated members and volunteers who make this annual event sustainable.”