Norwich sausages prove a sizzling success in BBQ contest
Jamie Archer from Archer's Butchers celebrating their success in the national Q Guild sausage competition. Picture: ANTONY KELLY - Credit: Archant
A Norwich butchers' closely-guarded sausage recipes have been handed down through the generations and have won Norfolk's coveted Battle of The Bangers award several times.
Now, Archer's Butchers is celebrating success in a national competition run by the Q Guild, which represents 110 award-winning butchers from the Scottish Highlands down to the south coast.
The Plumstead Road shop was highly-praised by the judges of the barbecue contest as a national runner-up for best speciality sausage, with its caramelised red onion sausage.
The shop, which has only recently become a member of the Q Guild, had already won the East of England regional competition with its sausages and collected five more gold awards.
Jamie Archer, who runs the shop, which was founded by his grandfather, said: 'The members of the Q Guild are at the pinnacle of their trade. We're the best of the best so to come runner-up in our first competition is a great achievement.
'We wanted to better ourselves, to be the best that we possibly can be. I've learnt a lot from my dad and other butchers, but to have this wider network is invaluable.'
Archer's of Norwich was founded in 1929 by John Archer, who started off in Norwich's famous provisions market. His son, James (Jimmy) Archer, came into the trade as soon as he was allowed to leave school and in the early 1980s bought the business from his father.
Most Read
- 1 TUI flight to Tenerife cancelled as it was on the tarmac
- 2 Emergency services called to person in water on Prince of Wales Road
- 3 New Tesco store opens in city centre
- 4 Traffic builds around Earlham Park as gates open for Let's Rock
- 5 Motorcylist in 50s in hospital with serious injuries after tyre shop crash
- 6 Mystery over who needs to cut overgrown hedge amid safety fears
- 7 Parents 'terrified' after THIRD run-in with cars driving on pavement
- 8 Norwich pub selling out on Sundays with new head chef's roast dinners
- 9 Can you help trace this Norwich man's next of kin?
- 10 'I went to hospital with dental pain - it turns out I had cancer'
Under Jimmy the business developed and the shop doubled in size to cope with the extra demand, and a delicatessen and baguette takeaway were added.
Now in its third generation, Jimmy's son Jamie is taking the business forward, while maintaining traditional techniques and methods used by his father and grandfathers, John Archer and Oliver Craske.
Do you have a story about an award-winning business? Call reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772474.