Eating Out > Local Produce > Southport Potted Shrimps

Southport Potted Shrimps

Shrimping was an important factor in people's livelihoods in and around Southport in the late 19th century.
Business really began to boom in Southport when the growth of the railways helped to open up the market.

As Southport became more accessible, people started to flock to the seaside resort and when they tasted the tiny brown, sweet-tasting shrimps they wanted to be able to eat them at home.

This led to problems, as despite the advent of the railways, by the time the shrimps got to places such as Wigan or Manchester they were unfit to eat. So someone came up with the idea of potted shrimps; by cooking the shelled shrimps, packing them in butter and flavouring them with mace, cayenne and other herbs and spices they would last longer.

James Peet, of Banks, near Southport, is now one of the few producers left selling them.

Find out more information about James Peet