At Market Hall, we're excited to be hosting the first Tide Café as part of the Sea for Yourself programme, inviting people to come together and explore Plymouth's unique relationship with the sea.
Saturday 19 September 2026
11am–1pm
Market Hall, Devonport
Free tea, coffee and cake provided
Plymouth is a city shaped by water. The tides influence our coastline, our wildlife, our journeys, our hobbies and our sense of place. Yet for something that affects everyday life so profoundly, we don't often stop to talk about it.
The Tide Café is an opportunity to do just that.
Not a Talk. A Conversation.
This isn't a lecture, presentation or panel discussion. There is no stage and no expectation that you need any specialist knowledge before you arrive.
Instead, Market Hall will become a welcoming space for local people, artists and those with different experiences and perspectives of Plymouth's marine environment to come together and share stories, questions, observations and ideas.
Whether you sail, fish, paddleboard, walk the coastline, remember childhood trips to the beach, or simply have questions about the sea and tides, your experiences are part of the conversation.
You can stay for ten minutes or the full two hours, enjoy a free tea or coffee and a slice of cake, listen to others, share your own thoughts and see where the discussion takes you.
Special Guests
Joining the conversation at Market Hall will be David Cotterrell, the artist behind Intertidal, a major new artwork being developed for Sea for Yourself.
David works across art, technology, moving image, installation and public space, creating work that encourages people to look differently at the environments around them. The Tide Café offers a chance to hear more about the ideas behind Intertidal and to share your own observations about Plymouth's coastline and tides.
Also taking part is Emily Wood, journalist and former BBC local weather presenter. Having spent more than 15 years presenting weather forecasts, including tide information, Emily brings a wealth of local knowledge and insight while being equally interested in hearing the stories and experiences of others.
A Shared Exploration of Plymouth's Coastline
The tides reveal hidden landscapes, transform familiar places and shape the rhythm of life around Plymouth's waterfront. From mudflats and rockpools to changing harbours and coastal pathways, there is always something new to notice.
The Tide Café is an invitation to pause, look a little closer and hear how others experience the same coastline.
Part of Sea for Yourself
The Tide Café forms part of Sea for Yourself, a cultural programme creating new ways for people to experience and explore Plymouth Sound National Marine Park through creativity, participation and digital innovation.
It also connects to Tide Together, a wider programme exploring Plymouth through its tides, and David Cotterrell's upcoming Intertidal artwork.
For now, the Tide Café is a chance to begin the conversation.
Come along, enjoy a free tea or coffee and cake, share a story, ask a question, or simply listen.
No specialist knowledge required. Everyone is welcome.
