The Red Lion has hosted the annual Great Sausage Roll Off for over a decade – making the pub synonymous with the nation’s favourite pastry-wrapped snack. The Sausage Roll Off brought the great and good of the culinary world together to find the best sausage roll in the country. Entrants flocked from all over the British Isles, and beyond, to showcase their creations and to win the coveted Great Sausage Roll Off trophy.

Over the years, a number of famous faces have graced the judging panel such as the late great restaurant critic Charles Campion, Chefs Simon Rimmer, Phil Howard, Daniel Clifford, Simon Hulstone, the legendary Peirre Koffman and broadcasters James O' Brien, Lisa Faulkner and Jeremy Vine to name but a few – who were the ultimate decision makers for this sought after accolade – all supported by our wonderful compère, beer and food writer Melissa Cole.

This winning combination created the biggest sausage roll competition (that we know of) – while raising thousands of pounds for charity. Watch this space for future sausage roll updates. Keep on rolling!

The Red Lion in Barnes is delighted to announce that Alan ‘Sir Porketeer’ Paton won this year’s Great Sausage Roll Off – an annual competition to find the best sausage roll.

Hosted by The Red Lion’s Managers, Angus McKean and Claire Morgan, £5,000 was raised on the night for Only a Pavement Away through tickets and sausage roll sales.

Seventeen chefs, including The Red Lion’s own Angus McKean, cooked up their savoury treats and served them to the panel of esteemed judges – and the pastry loving audience. 

As always, competitors descended on Barnes from all over the UK to showcase their wonderful and wacky creations. The entries comprised a vast range of flavours and ingredients – from pig cheek wrapped in croissant dough to harissa lamb with yoghurt dip.

Alan’s winning creation was a Suffolk Duroc pork and black pudding Battenburg with Yorkshire rhubarb curd. While second place went to Alec ‘The Weeping Chef’ Tomasso – for his handmade pig cheek cotechino sausage with croissant dough, crackling and tomato sauce powder, served with basil and spicy pepper sauce. 

And third place went to Kat Dima, Head Baker of The Real Food Cafe in Tyndrum, for The Kilted Wonder – a pork and haggis sausage roll served with spicy ketchup. 

Watch the video below to see all the action from 2023