London Oyster Championships return to Bentley’s

Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill has announced the return of the London Oyster Championships, taking place this September.

The event will take place on September 19, with tickets going on sale from August 5.

The much-anticipated event will once again transform Swallow Street into a vibrant celebration of oysters, seafood and competition.

Sponsored by premium English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber and hospitality experience platform SevenRooms, the championships are held in partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation, which works to raise awareness of sustainable seafood practices and promote biodiversity.

All oyster shells from the competition will be returned to the Essex Estuaries to support vital native oyster restoration projects.

Bentley’s has been an institution for fresh oysters and seafood since it first opened its doors in 1916. The London Oyster Championships mark the beginning of the native oyster season and bring together chefs, shuckers and enthusiasts from across the country.

The day begins at 1pm with the high-adrenaline 'Speed Shucking' round, where competitors battle through four heats and a final to open oysters against the

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clock. The winner of this round will go on to represent England at the World Oyster Championships in Galway, Ireland, in an all-expenses-paid trip, vying for the English Oyster Opening Champion title that Bentley’s own Federico Fiorillo claimed in 2023.

Judging the Speed Shucking competition will be Christ Leftwich, President of the Shellfish Association of Great Britain; David Jarrad, the association’s chief executive; and Nicki Holmyard, an industry expert, previous master shucker and director of offshore shellfish.

The judging panel for this round includes some of the UK’s most recognisable culinary figures: Irish chef and restaurateur Anna Haugh, Saturday Kitchen presenter Matt Tebbutt, Bake Off host and cookery writer Prue Leith, and wine personality and critic Hannah Crosbie.

Chef Richard Corrigan said: “We’re thrilled to welcome back some of the country’s best chefs and bivalve experts to Bentley’s later this summer. There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere when the street fills with oyster lovers, live music and friendly rivalry.”

Tickets for the event will be available via Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill.

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