Details revealed about this year’s Pirates Weekend Plymouth

12th April 2019

Get your Jolly Rogers at the ready! The award-winning Pirates Weekend Plymouth returns to the Waterfront in May, offering a swashbuckling weekend of free fun for all the family to enjoy.

Organised by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District, Pirates Weekend Plymouth takes place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May across the Barbican, Sutton Harbour and West Hoe.

Visitors can expect two days packed full of entertainment and activities, including a pirate trail, storytellers, puppet shows, arts and crafts activities, street entertainment and much more.

New for this year will be shanty bands singing their stories of adventure while the Ships Surgeon will be around to tell stories of pirate crews and their health aboard ship. Also new for this year is a visit from The Bounty Project, following the success of the major Channel 4 series, Mutiny, professional yachtsman Conrad Humphreys will be on hand to talk about Captain Bligh and his incredible voyages.

Two tall ships, The Grayhound and The Phoenix, will be moored in Sutton Harbour for the duration of the weekend, inviting visitors to hop on board for free. Grayhound is a replica of a 1776 Cornish Privateer, built using traditional methods in 2011, while The Phoenix is a replica of an 18th century brig which has played a starring role in TV programmes including Poldark and Taboo.

Jonty Depp and his nemesis, Captain Barbossa will return to roam the streets while Melody the Mermaid will be waiting to meet children and tell magical stories.

Sarah Gibson, Waterfront Manager and Chief Executive of the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, said: “Pirates Weekend Plymouth won Silver at the 2018 Devon Tourism Awards for Tourism Event and Festival of the Year as the best family Pirates Weekend in the South West. Designed and funded by Waterfront businesses, Pirates Weekend Plymouth has activities linking the Barbican, Sutton Harbour and West Hoe Park, whilst Mount Batten Pirates powerboat experiences and PDSSA pirate sailing lessons will give visitors a treat to get out onto the water too.”

“In its eighth year, Pirates Weekend Plymouth is unmissable – so get yourselves dressed up as pirates and come along for two days of brilliant fun!”

Fancy dress is encouraged throughout the weekend and new for this year is a Pirate Parade, sponsored by Lazy Jacks. Led by the The Drake Corps of Drums and the infamous Jonty Depp, all of Plymouth’s pirates will march through the streets of the Barbican together. Every young participant dressed as a pirate will be given a special gift.

Children can also follow a Pirate Trail around the Barbican and Sutton Harbour, sponsored by Sutton Harbour Group. Maps are available to collect from the Tourist Information Centre for just £2, every participant will receive a prize for completing the trail and also be entered into a draw to win a Lego Creator set.

A full programme of shanty bands will entertain the crowds between 10.30am and 3pm each day in a number of locations: along Southside Street, outside Capn’ Jaspers and on board the Grayhound tall ship.

For more information about all the activities at this year’s Pirates Weekend Plymouth, head to our Pirates Weekend Plymouth page.