Historic sausage back on the menu

The Jolly Farmers pub restaurant in Buckland near Reigate is helping their local butcher put a lost sausage back on people’s plates. When pub owners Jon and Paula Briscoe – both staunch supporters of local food – approached Robert Hewitt of Reigate’s Robert and Edwards Butchers about creating a sausage that uses locally sourced, free range pork, little did they know that it would lead to the discovery of a long-forgotten recipe. Now, the historic banger, re-named The Surrey Hills Heritage Sausage, is a firm favourite on the award-winning pub’s menu. 

“The pork and apple sausage is made to an original recipe created by Robert Hewitt’s father, Norman,” explains Jon Briscoe.  “He ran a pig farm less than two miles from here and was something of a sausage expert who supplied top stores such as Selfridges, so when Robert found his recipe, we agreed to give it a try. Once we’d tasted it, we knew this was a sausage that people needed in their lives – a handmade, heritage product we would be proud to serve to our customers.” 

Its local credentials have earned the sausage the approval of Surrey Hills Enterprises which supports the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), making it the only banger in the Surrey Hills to be permitted to display the prestigious Surrey Hills badge of approval. To further show their commitment to the local area, The Jolly Farmers will be making a donation of 5% to the Surrey Hills for every portion of sausage and mash served during the course of their new spring menu, ploughing funds back into the local area to encourage conservation, preservation and enhancement.

“The discovery of this heritage sausage from such close proximity to The Jolly Farmers is just a fantastic story. We are honoured to be the driving force behind this wonderful collaborative project bringing pub, butcher and Surrey Hills Enterprises together through our shared values,” says Jon. “Our business model is about supporting and working with local food and drink producers, so this is a perfect fit for us.”

Read more about The Jolly Farmers pub, eatery & farm shop at Buckland near Reigate 

• Robert and Edwards butchers in Reigate will also be selling the Surrey Hills Heritage Sausage and making a 5% donation to the Surrey Hills Trust Fund.