Life-long sausage fan and rock legend Noddy Holder got a taste of one of Croots Farm Shop’s newest sausages during the regional final of a competition to find Britain’s best bangers.
The Henry Cooper Sausage won through to the regional final of the event, held during British Sausage Week.
And Slade frontman Noddy Holder joined the British Sausage Appreciation Society to judge the competition at a Nottingham hotel.
Steve Croot, who runs Croots Farm Shop near Duffield in Derbyshire said: “The theme of this year’s competition was Legendary British Bangers, and we developed our Henry Cooper Sausage in tribute to the boxing champ. Noddy’s a bit of a legend himself, so it was great to meet him.”
The Henry Cooper Sausage created by Croots’ butchers especially for the event features three different types of pork – free range Packington Pork, wild boar and Gloucestershire Old Spot - plus a secret blend of spices, which pack a punch.
It’s one of two legendary sausages developed by Croots for British Sausage Week, which runs until Sunday November 6th. The other is the Brian Clough Banger, which pays tribute to the legendary football manager, and features a dash of Old Big ‘Ead beer from Buxton Brewery and Croots Cow Juice ale.
Croots Farm Shop, in Wirksworth Road, will be holding a sausage festival on Saturday November 5th as part of its celebrations for British Sausage Week, with special deals over that weekend. Samples will be available on November 5th and the butchers will be on hand to offer advice about how to get the best from your bangers.
Two additional new sausages – beef and tomato and lamb and vegetables – have also been developed to mark British Sausage Week.
“We’ve totted up how many different types of sausages our butchers have developed since we opened just over three years ago and it’s an amazing 63,” said Steve Croot. “We don’t sell them all at any one time, but tend to rotate them. It just goes to show how popular sausages are, and how versatile the flavours can be.”
The farm shop is renowned for its quality sausages and pies, and has won numerous awards. Last year it was a runner-up in the Best UK Independent Food Retailer 2010 category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards. The year before, it was named in The Independent’s top 50 best food shops.
“British Sausage Week is an excellent time to celebrate one of the nation’s favourite foods,” added Steve Croot.
Croots Farm Shop and Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.
For more information visit www.croots.co.uk
Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk
