ORGANISERS of the upcoming Harwich Sausage Festival have announced the nine butchers who will be competing in this year’s competition.

Blind tasting will take place in the Alma Inn, the New Bell Inn and the Stingray on Saturday, November 4.

The public decide the final result.

Richard Oxborrow, joint festival organiser, said: “The sausage put up by the butchers for the competition must be a sausage that can regularly be bought in their shop. 

“The quality is always exceptionally high and this year is no exception.

"Harwich’s real ale pubs are the place to be on Saturday November, 4 for a lunch time feast of top quality beer and sausages.”

The competing butchers are:

  • Smiths Butchers of Brightlingsea
  • Pier Avenue butchers of Clacton on Sea
  • Shaws Farm Meats of Dovercourt and Manningtree markets
  • Becky’s butchers of Great Bromley
  • Frinton Road butchers of Holland on Sea
  • Chas Bower of Holland on Sea
  • Ragmarsh Farm Shop of Manningtree
  • Ramsey Master butchers of Ramsey
  • Wallis’ Farm Shop and Butchers of Tendring

Colin Cheesman, joint festival organiser, said: “The Harwich Sausage Festival has become a very prestigious event with the winning sausage going on to compete at a national level. 

“Visitors to this year’s festival will sample great sausages alongside top quality real ale. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday lunch time in Harwich.”