The countdown is on for one of the largest events on the North East’s social calendar – and there are just a handful of tickets remaining.
The 15th annual North East Oyster Festival will be held at Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, on Friday September 28.
Organised by Ramside Estates which owns Hardwick Hall, the event raises vital cash for local good causes and will this year once again support Butterwick Hospice Care.
Singing sensation Gabrielle, the voice behind 1990s classics such as Dreams, Give Me A Little More Time, Walk On By and Rise, will be the star guest on the night as she performs a string of her famous hits.
More music will come from Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, a North-East band which takes inspiration from the New Orleans brass blowing genre and gives it a modern twist with cover versions of dance favourites.
The band pays homage to the diehard days of the Hacienda and the 1990s club culture with their unique take on classics such as Blue Monday, Step On and Voodoo Ray.
Irish musicians Emerald Thieves will also be helping to get the guests on their feet and dancing, and are set to follow more Irish music from the JJ Galway Band.
Aside from the music, comedy star DJ Ivan Brackenbury, the inept hospital radio host created by Tom Binns, will be bringing his unique brand of humour to the party, which will once again be compered by popular North comedian, Steve Walls.
John Adamson, director of Ramside Estates said a small number of tickets are still available, but expects them to sell out within the next week.
“The North East Oyster Festival is now recognised as one of the region’s most popular fundraising events on the social calendar, and once again we have just about sold out ahead of the day,” he said.
“We have just recently added a Mr Wilson’s Second Liners to the programme on the day and I think this year will probably be the best line up we have ever had.
“The North East Oyster Festival is a fun day to remember, but it also raises a lot of vital cash for charity.
“Tickets are selling very quickly now and with just a few weeks to go I’d advise anyone who hasn’t bought one yet but plan to, to do it soon or they may end up disappointed.”
The event, sponsored by Great Annual Savings Group along with a number of other local and national businesses, will include a Champagne reception, three-course fruit de mer menu, oyster stalls and complimentary lager, beer and wine.
Tickets for the 15th annual North East Oyster Festival cost £145 plus VAT per person, and are available by calling 01740 620 253 or by emailing: [email protected]
More information on the event is available at www.theoysterfestival.co.uk