15th December 2011

WEYMOUTH: River Cottage gives Weymouth a boost

A SPOTLIGHT was shone on Weymouth when the historic harbour was featured on prime-time television.

The borough’s famous fishing hub was caught on camera when The River Cottage TV crew filmed celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Christmas special.

It joins a host of TV programmes which have recently been filmed in the borough including CBBC’s ‘Jedward’s Big Adventure’ and BBC 1 primetime evening show ‘The Magicians’ featuring TV celebrity Arlene Phillips.

Weymouth and Portland’s chamber of commerce (WPCC) members have welcomed the boost in exposure the town is receiving ahead of the 2012 Olympic games.

Andy Cooke, president of the WPCC, said the programmes were like buying primetime television adverts that showcased the borough around the world.

The Weymouth businessman said: “Any exposure on TV, especially popular TV shows, can be a equated to the cost of air time from the point of view of advertising.

“If the programme is good and shows Weymouth in a good light then without a shadow of a doubt it alerts people to Weymouth and how nice the town is and that will draw visitors in.

“The other thing that’s important to the borough is that many TV programmes, especially ones like Hugh’s, are sold to other countries and if that were so it would give us more international coverage.”

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall’s programme was shown at 8pm on Channel 4 on December 12th.

Hugh and the River Cottage team filmed scenes with Weymouth charter skipper and old friend Pat Carlin during an evening of prawn netting in Weymouth Harbour in November.

After filming Hugh and the team ate mackerel baps from the Marlboro Fish and Chip shop – which recently starred as part of the TV chef’s bid to promote sustainable fishing.

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall said he loved hanging around Weymouth harbour.

He said: “There’s always something going on, and some good fish chat to join in. This winter, Pat suggested we might have some fun dropping netting for prawns off the harbour wall – and he was right.

“We had a great evening, and a good haul of prawns. We rounded off the evening with a thermos of mulled wine.

“It was a memorable and very festive evening – a great way to kick off our River Cottage Christmas.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council briefholder for culture, tourism and community facilities Andy Blackwood said it was good publicity for Weymouth and Portland and helped to enhance its popularity as a great place to visit.

He said: “The borough council works hard to accommodate and encourage this type of exposure in order to help boost the tourism industry.”

PICTURE: MACKEREL BAPS - Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (centre) and the River Cottage team enjoy their supper after an evening of filming in Weymouth Harbour

WEYMOUTH: River Cottage gives Weymouth a boost

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