Chutneys, preserves, hot sauces and pickles – if it’s brined, it’ll be at Deptford pub
Returning on 9 November this year, the event invites anyone and everyone – from pickling pros, champions of chutneys or hot sauce heroes – to submit wares for tasting. And there really is a category for everyone.
The full list covers pickles, preserves, hot sauce, chutney, bread, cakes, arts and crafts, and photography.
Entries have to be submitted by 8pm on the night, with tastings and judging to kick off from 8:30pm.
Pub landlord Séamus O’Neill tells The Weekender that it all started when a couple of regulars were pickling vegetables from their allotments, with the festival having two or three categories to begin with.
“It’s just grown exponentially since then,” he says, with the event welcoming pickle bloggers from all over the world, including Boston, Germany and China. “It’s a peculiar festival, especially for the heart of London, but it’s gone global,” adds Séamus.
Last year welcomed almost 2,000 people and nearly 250 entries to the various categories, with The Dog & Bell putting out bread and crackers for you to taste the pickled submissions when judging.
A winner is announced for each category on the night, and an overall winner, too. “Everyone gets their bragging rights for the year,” says Séamus.
This year’s event is hosted by a new Pickle Queen, which Séamus explains there have been five in total throughout the previous festival, who will run the event.
Also on the night, you can enjoy live performances from three bands, plus a hog roast and paella if you’re still hungry after tasting each entry.
Forks at the ready.
116 Prince Street, SE8 3JD
