A VILLAGE butchers famed for bangers endorsed by stars of ITV period drama Downton Abbey is up for two awards.

The Bampton Royals pork sausages made by Bampton’s Patrick Strainge Butchers are among eight of its products nominated for the Q Guild Smithfield Awards.

They have proved a hit with some stars of the popular drama, which films outdoor scenes in the West Oxfordshire village.

Another nominated product is the Patmore Pie, which has been given to actress Lesley Nicol, who plays Beryl Patmore.

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Last month actor Rob James-Collier, who plays villain Thomas Barrow, was reported to be a fan of the butchers’ sausages.

Manager Oliver Weaver, 20, who began working there six years ago, said: “The Bampton Royals are really tasty sausages but they’ve done even better off the back of Downton Abbey and got even more popular.

“The awards are very competitive but it would be great to win.

“Over the course of six years it’s been quite a fast transition for me but it’s a great achievement for someone so young.”

The Bampton resident, whose family took over the butchers two years ago, added: “I’ve got to spend a lot more time on them and choose the right products, with more precise measurements and ingredients.”

The eight products are the Bampton Royals, caramelised onion sausage, Patmore pie, beef burgers, pork and apple burger, scotch egg, and unsmoked and smoked back bacon.

Thame butchers M Newitt and Sons is also represented in the South East awards with nine products, including sausages, pies, steak and bacon.

Finalists will go before Great British Menu judge Matthew Fort in London on Thursday, November 13.

The Bampton butchers is also among six finalists in British Sausage Week’s Great British Banger South East contest alongside two other county butchers.

It entered the Blood, Sweat and Tears sausage, with its name represented by the ingredients of black pudding (blood), salt (sweat) and onion (tears).

Other nominees include Witney’s Denshams Butchers for its allotment sausage and Banbury’s Wykham Park Farm Shop for its Gloucester Old Spot Pork, Smoked Bacon and Leek sausage.

Former England rugby captain and Celebrity Masterchef 2011 winner Phil Vickery will judge the entries at Reading’s Bell and Dragon next Wednesday.



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