The London Oyster Championships will return to Mayfair in September as chef Richard Corrigan celebrates 20 years in charge of the acclaimed seafood restaurant Bentley’s.
Corrigan is to welcome some of the country’s best-known chefs and TV personalities, including Anna Haugh and Matt Tebbutt, as he hosts speed shucking and “best dressed” competitions. Joining Haugh and Tebbutt as judges will be Prue Leith and wine writer Hannah Crosbie.
For one day only, the event will take over the entirety of Swallow Street, with English sparkling wine and cocktails on offer and plenty of snacks from the Bentley’s kitchen. Gizzi Erskine will host.
Kicking off proceedings will be the speed shucking, overseen by judges Christ Leftwich and David Jarrad (president and CEO of the Shellfish Association of Great Britain respectively), and industry expert Nicki Holmyard, a past master shucker and the director of Offshore Shellfish.
After four heats and a final, the winner will go on to represent England at the world championships in Galway, Ireland as part of an all-expenses paid trip. Bentley’s own Federico Fiorillo won the same event in 2023.
Later in the day, there’ll be live music and other activities, including the best-dressed contest which will see chefs compete to create the best topped oysters. Last year’s winner Tom Brown is to again take part alongside chefs from the likes of Fallow and The Sea, The Sea. The winner will see their oyster feature on the Bentley’s menu for a month.
All the while, Corrigan will also offer his learnings and expertise on oysters and the Blue Marine Foundation, a conservation organisation to which proceeds from the day will go.
Since it first opened its doors in 1916, Bentley’s has become a London institution, known for its seafood dinners and fine service. The fish pie is highly enjoyable.
The London Oyster Championships will be held on Friday September 19. Tickets are £55-per-head and include two drinks. Tickets go on sale on August 5. 1-15 Swallow Street, W1B 4DG, bentleys.org
