OCC returns to Stranraer for Oyster Festival
The Oxford Cultural Collective returned for a second year to the Stranraer Oyster Festival – now firmly established as a major celebration of South-West Scotland’s unique coastal heritage and outstanding seasonal produce.
From 13th to 15th September 2024, an estimated 25,000 visitors gathered to sample Loch Ryan’s native oysters, as well as to enjoy the finals of the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championships; an entertainment marquee, featuring live music and street food stalls; and a Traders’ Zone, showcasing a wide range of locally produced food and drink.
Helping to enrich the festival’s programme, the Oxford Cultural Collective brought together some of the country’s best loved chefs who entertained audiences in the Kitchen Theatre, demonstrating favourite dishes and sharing stories from their successful professional lives.
Extensive press coverage focused on the regenerative impact of the festival, highlighting how the collective effort of community leaders, growers, harvesters and producers is helping a place, its people and its natural environment flourish.
To watch an edition of BBC 1’s Countryfile dedicated to the Stranraer Oyster Festival, broadcast on 13th October – follow this link.
The chefs who participated in the festival were:
Tony Singh MBE and Cyrus Todiwala OBE. It is ten years since acclaimed chefs Tony Singh and Cyrus Todiwala set out on a mission to wake Britain up to the versatility of spices with their hit BBC TV show The Incredible Spice Men. Cyrus co-owns London’s iconic restaurant Café Spice Namaste with his wife Pervin, and Tony is now running an exclusive summer-club from his home in Edinburgh.
Pam Brunton. It was perfect timing for renowned Scottish chef Pam Brunton to appear at the festival – the same week that she launched her much anticipated first book, Between Two Waters: Heritage, Landscape and the Modern Cook. Pam discussed her optimistic vision for the future of Scottish gastronomy, built on the talents of a culturally diverse community of chefs, who embrace advanced sustainability, social justice and sense of place.
Julie Lin. Back for a second year at Stranraer, Julie Lin is fast becoming one of the country’s most admired culinary stars. The owner of Gaga in Glasgow’s west end, Julie is now a regular on BBC1;s Saturday Kitchen Live, having first appeared on our screens on BBC Masterchef in 2014.
Jimmy Lee. Social media sensation Jimmy Lee owns Lychee Oriental in Glasgow, winner of the Best Chinese Restaurant in Scotland award for 2024. No stranger to the limelight, Jimmy is now a regular on ITV’s This Morning, and was previously co-presenter of Julie and Jimmy’s Hot Woks with fellow Stranraer Oyster Festival chef Julie Lin.
The Stranraer Oyster Festival has been nominated for a prestigious BBC Food and Farming Award. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Glasgow on 2nd December 2024.
