Jonathan Judges at the Stranraer Oyster Festival

Last weekend, English’s very own Jonathan was invited to Scotland to take part in the Stranraer Oyster Festival, joining chef Tony Singh on the judging panel for the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championship – also known as the Shuck Off.

The first Stranraer Oyster Festival burst onto Scotland’s event scene with a bang in 2017 and has been held annually ever since. Loch Ryan is home to Scotland’s last remaining wild, native oyster fishery, and the festival celebrates the town’s oysters in a three-day programme that attracts thousands of people.

The festival programme includes cookery demonstrations by celebrity and local chefs, live music, extreme pond dipping, an artisan market, the Big Oyster Bash, children’s entertainment, a massive oyster bar, and a spectacular firework display over Loch Ryan.

A highlight of the weekend is always the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championship, where chefs and seafood professionals battle it out for the chance to represent Scotland at the World Championships in Galway, Ireland. This year, Jonathan was invited to bring his five decades of oyster expertise to the judging panel.

Jonathan’s career has spanned 50 years in the industry. He began at Ronnie Scott’s in Soho in the late 1970s, moved on to Langhan’s Brasserie in Mayfair, and later spent a decade with Wheeler’s of St James, managing their Brighton restaurant before becoming General Manager at Old Compton Street, Soho. In 2000, Jonathan joined English’s of Brighton as General Manager and now, in semi-retirement, continues to shuck oysters part-time at our oyster bar.

Reflecting on his long career, Jonathan says he feels he and the restaurants he’s worked with have “helped support the oyster industry through the huge number of British bivalves we’ve served over the years.” At English’s alone, almost 50,000 oysters are shucked every year – a testament to the enduring love for this seafood delicacy.

The weekend was a great success, and photos captured the moment Jonathan lined up with competitors before the Shuck Off, presented the award to Scottish Champion Alexander Wallace, and shared a celebratory moment with his fellow judge Tony Singh.

“Jonathan’s impressive career and decades-long passion for oysters made him the perfect choice to join chef Tony Singh in judging the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championship. Our thanks to him for sharing his expertise; we were absolutely delighted that he was able to attend the festival.” – Allan Jenkins, Events Manager at Stranraer Oyster Festival

We’re incredibly proud to see Jonathan representing English’s at such a prestigious event, and raising a glass (and an oyster shell!) to the next generation of shuckers.