Simpsons - Heckington - Cumberland Sausage

Simpsons butchers are ripping up the form book right now. This is a company at the top of its game. They're attracting great reviews online and huge praise from the Q Guild - and when these chaps say you're doing it right, You. Are. Doing. It. Right. The Q Guild is an elite set of butchers and their word and opinion is hugely respected. Simpsons are the current Q Guild Butcher Of The Month (at time of writing), and I asked if I could include a link to that page. Sadly they refused.

If you want to do a little research about Simpsons then they have a good website: SIMPSONS BUTCHERS  Marvellously, the opening times of all six shops are different and quirky, which we highly approve of. If the service at each store is as good as at the Sleaford venue then you will be very well looked after.

You probably think you already know what we think of Simpsons' Cumberland sausages....read on to see if you're right....

Where To Find Them:
If you're a user of new-fangled SausNav devices use the following "post codes" (whatever they are) to find each shop:
Sleaford - NG34 8NY
Spalding - PE11 1SG
Heckington - NG34 9RW
Lincoln - LN2 4SX
South Hykeham - LN6 9NT
Stamford - PE9 4BB

Stanwatch:
We visited the Sleaford branch, located inside Four Seasons Garden Centre. We didn't spot a single Stan, maybe because the produce is butchered elsewhere and brought in?

Flavour:
The pork is delightfully sweet, giving a great base for this sausage. Cumberlands traditionally see more of the pepper and less of the herbs, yet on the ingredients list there's no mention of it, either black or white. Other additions traditionally were the likes of nutmeg and ginger, coming into the picture in the eighteenth century, and reflecting much greater imports of these items into the north-west of England, especially Whitehaven. But we digress. These sausages are probably not ideal for everybody's breakfast but taste superb.

Texture:
Cumberland sausage meat should be chopped not minced, and the texture of Simpsons' version is coarse and solid. Good marks there boys. We both squidged with the fork and found it pretty difficult, again, well done.


Vital Statistics:
Average Weight Uncooked = 61 grams
Average Weight Cooked = 57 grams
Meat Content = Sorry, I didn't make a note. I'll up my game in future.

Value For Money:
£2.51 for 6 sausages weighing 366 grams. This works out as £6.86 per kg and 42p per banger. We rate this as very good value for money.


Junior Sidekick's Three Word Verdict:
Very highly meaty.


And Finally, Esther:
Not named "Traditional Cumberland Sausages" in order to sidestep the PGI status I should imagine, but a very nice addition to your plate. Buy some!