All event dates have expired.
Renowned chef Richard Corrigan is delighted to announce the revival of the London Oyster Championships, taking the reins from the longstanding 'Tabasco British Oyster Championship,' which graced London for over 25 years. Scheduled for Tuesday, September 19th, this event unfolds on Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill terrace in Piccadilly.
Dedicated to celebrating the return of the native oyster season (September-April), it serves as both an educational platform and a thrilling competition. London's top restaurants will go head-to-head in two rounds: the Best Dressed Oysters and a high-speed oyster shucking challenge. The London Oyster Championships will determine the city's premier oyster shucker, who will then represent London in the World Oyster Opening Championship in Galway, Ireland, the following week. Notable participants include Maison Francois, Notting Hill Fish Shop, Wiltons, and Darby's.
Beyond the competition, the event aims to foster discussions about native oysters, their historical importance, rewilding initiatives in the British Isles, innovative harvesting techniques, and the crucial significance of sustainable seafood practices. All oyster shells will be recycled to aid native oyster bed restoration in Loch Ryan, creating valuable shell habitat for young oysters and larvae.
Proceeds from the event will benefit The Blue Marine Foundation, supporting their efforts to restore Native Oyster beds in Essex's Blackwater Estuary, aligning with a shared commitment to preserving marine ecosystems.
Applications to take part in the London Oyster Championships are now open. To apply, email [email protected] by 11 September.
