THE new trophy for the winning sausage at the Harwich Sausage Festival has been unveiled ahead of this year’s competition.

The latest festival will take place in the real ale pubs of Harwich on Saturday, November 4.

Now a much-loved staple, The Harwich Sausage Festival began in 2011 after being discussed in the New Bell Inn.

Since then, the New Bell has been ‘Sausage HQ’ for the festival.

For this reason, the festival’s organisers thought it fitting to unveil the new trophy at the pub, with new owners Terri Ryland and Diane Hampson posing for a picture with it.

Richard Oxborrow, joint festival organiser, said: “We are very pleased with the new trophy and it seemed appropriate to unveil it in the New Bell which has been ‘Sausage HQ’ since the festival began in 2011.

“It will be in the New Bell on Saturday afternoon that the winner of the 2023 competition is announced.”

The nine competing sausages will be available to sample in the Alma Inn, Stingray and New Bell Inn with further local sausages available to sample in the Crown Post (home of the Hanover), Globe and Samuel Pepys. 

When the blind tasting is complete and the public votes counted, the result will be announced in the New Bell Inn.

Joint sausage festival organiser, Colin Cheesman, said: “We are very lucky to have so many great pubs in Harwich and, with six of them taking part in the festival, no-one will have far to walk to enjoy their next drink whilst sampling top quality sausages. 

“It’s going to be another great day in Historic Harwich.”