Jeyes of Earls Barton launches its very own 'Northamptonshire sauce' and new delicatessen

These are exciting times for Jeyes of Earls Barton with the launch of its new delicatessen and very own 'Northamptonshire sauce'.

The family-run business has recreated their ancestor Philadelphus Jeyes' relish from circa 1835 with the help of a Northampton chutney maker and BBC Radio Northampton.

While the Hamm Tun Deli opens at the Earls Barton visitor attraction and coffee shop with an outdoor autumnal market on Saturday (October 3).

Philadelphus Jeyes’ 'Northamptonshire sauce' recipe was discovered in an old book in the heritage centre by Georgina Jeyes, who set up the Earls Barton pharmacy with her husband David in 1981.

Strangely David, who is Philadelphus' great, great grandson, has Perrin on his christening certificate and the family wondered if there was any link to Lea and Perrins, the producers of Worcestershire sauce.

The links continue as David and his predecessor both worked at 6 The Drapery in Northampton as pharmacy students in the 1960s and 1818 respectively, with Philadelpus an apprentice to pharmacist John Perrin.

After discussing the possible link during an interview on BBC Radio Northampton, the station and the family set about to find the evidence needed to prove it.

With super sleuths Tom and Andrew Radd up for the challenge, the proof was found in an advertisement for Jeyes’s genuine and superior essence of anchovies.

Georgina and David's daughter, Anna Jeyes, said: "This was an exciting development for us, for Northamptonshire and for BBC Radio Northampton, whose enthusiasm has given us such encouragement."

The Jeyes family then teamed up with Steve Reid, who produces a range of chutneys and sauces through his Northampton-based firm, Friars Farm, to make the 'Northamptonshire sauce'.

After recipe tweaking, tasting and planning, the sauce is ready for the public to try, with the big reveal on the BBC Radio Northampton breakfast show tomorrow morning (Friday).

The public will be able to try the sauce at the launch of the Hamm Tun Deli at Jeyes on Saturday, thanks to Jeyes' partnership with Hamm Tun Fine Foods.

The delicatessen was founded in Long Buckby in 2013 by Gary Bradshaw, whose passion for locally-produced cheese and savoury treats is shared with his wife Rachael.

The new deli is hosting an outdoor autumnal celebration of Northamptonshire produce where the public can meet the makers from 10am to 4pm - entry will be free.

Anna said: "Our brand new Moongate Garden is the perfect venue to host a garden market and Steve Reid will be here with our Jeyes’s Northamptonshire Sauce, which will be on sale for the very first time and special samples for people to try.

"There will be a marquee on our Moongate Garden so embrace this beautiful season and join us outdoor but make sure you wrap up warm."