Since 2013, we have been giving this much overlooked buffet item the attention it deserves with the creation of the almost, nearly, infamous, Great Sausage Roll Off. A bit like the X Factor meets Masterchef, it is an evening of crazy culinary pleasure, taken in the most seriously light hearted way. 

It is a live cooking event where around 20 professional chefs take their turns to create, roll and bake their own take on the Sausage Roll. It’s no mean feat, the cooking goes on in heats and lasts up to four hours!

This year’s event held was held on the 5th February and saw 20 chefs fighting for the title, we raised over £4000 for Hospitality Action. It was once again compared by Beer & Food writer Melissa Cole. Returning Sponsors were Rational UK, I.O Shen Knives & Netherton Foundry & new to Roll Off we welcomed valuable support from Asahi UK. As ever none of this would be possible without the support of our very own beloved Fuller’s. 
 
We proudly unveiled our Michelin star-studded judging panel for the night with, Chef Paul Cunningham (two stars) –of Henne Kirkeby Kro in Denmark, Chef Russell Bateman (one star) – head chef at Petrus and chef Paul Foster (one star) chef /owner of Salt in Stratford upon Avon, and to mix it all up a little we were so happy that Heart FM DJ Lucy Horobin accepted our invitation to sit on the table with the chefs. Thank you one & all you were amazing and we were humbled

THE CONTESTANTS FINAL LINE UP WAS

Danny Kingston - Food Urchin via Essex

Majella O'Connell - Pavlova & Cream, London

Davin Browning - Theatre Royal, Plymouth

Maurizio Pellegrini - The Italian Club Bakery, Liverpool

Charlie Hodson - Charlie’s Norfolk Food Heroes

Alan Chilton - Bower inn, Bridgwater

Anton Manganaro - BAFTA, Piccadilly, London

Adrian Oliver  - Cornish Field Kitchen, Padstow

Alec Tomasso  - The Weeping Chef, St Albans

James Taylor - The Bulls Head, Heyside, Oldham
 
Adam Lestrelle - Roehampton Club, London

Ben Handley - The Duck Inn, Stanhoe, Norfolk

Matt Colk - The Gun, Docklands, London

Amber Southon - The Quarryman’s Arms , Corsham, Wiltshire

Phil Harrison  - Bears Ice Cream Company, London

Robert Taylor - The Compasses Inn, Canterbury

David Steele -  Bartlett Mitchell, London    

Iain Devine & Alan Paton - The Drunken Butcher & Alan Paton , Manchester & East Anglia

AND THE WINNER WAS ..........

 
Proud champion for 2020 was first time entrant Chef Alan Chilton of Butcombe Brewery's The Bower Inn, Bridgwater with his Old English pork flavoured with ground cumin , coriander, turmeric, fresh ginger, chilli & garlic with crushed caraway seeds and an apple & tamarind ketchup all of with was served in beautiful tali dishes.
 
Second place, also from Butcombe Brewery, & second time entrant,  Chef Amber Southon of The Quarryman’s Arms , Corsham, Wiltshire with a Gloucester Old Spot, walnut butter with apple & pear flavours (& some beautiful decorative pastry work)
 
Third place was a collaboration from 'Roll Off  Royal Family member' Chef Alan Paton & newcomer Iain Devine with a 'Hangover cure Sausage Roll with handmade black pudding & some smoked Beer on the side'
 
All the judges were blown away by the spirit of the competition and by the first class quality of the dishes.
 
Thank you to all who bravely entered & who made the massive effort in giving up their time to trek here for the night, do not underestimate the amount of commitment it takes to enter this serious chef competition , it is definitely not for the feint hearted.

We are proud supporters of a fantastic charity, Hospitality Action. The Great Sausage Roll Off has produced such a chef camaraderie over the years that it made it an obvious choice to partner. Established in 1837 Hospitality Action, the Hospitality Industry Benevolent Organisation, has offered vital assistance to all who work, or have worked within hospitality in the UK and who find themselves in crisis, if you, or somebody you know is in need of some kind of help, call the helpline on 0808 802 0282 (24/7) where someone is there to help NOW !
 

The Great Sausage Roll Off is huge on Twitter.  Get involved, watch the banter and use #rolloff

If you wish to apply for #rolloff 2021 it is planned to take place on the 3rd February* you can apply by filling in the form below …… Good Luck !
*subject to the pandemic situation