CAMPAIGNERS were left with a bitter taste in their mouths after seeing an iconic sauce synonymous with the city was left off the menu at a soon-to-open cocktail bar.

But they are now toasting their success after they managed to get The Botanist to agree to use Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce in its Bloody Mary cocktail.

Campaigners were shocked to see that the cocktail bar's menu had replaced the traditional ingredient brewed in Midland Road, Worcester, with Sheffield-based Henderson's Relish.

Outraged, they even suggested boycotting the new bar in Cathedral Square if the iconic - and original - city-made ingredient was not included.

Jeremy Batten, a passionate Worcestershire Sauce lover, said: "It's come to my attention that The Botanist is opening up in Cathedral Plaza, overlooking Elgar statue and the Cathedral - two of Worcester's three most important icons.

"The third one is Lea & Perrin's Worcestershire Sauce.

Worcester News: Jeremy Batten: Calls for Worcestershire sauce to be included in The Botanist's Bloody MaryJeremy Batten: Calls for Worcestershire sauce to be included in The Botanist's Bloody Mary

"However, the people at The Botanist have, under the ingredients for their Bloody Mary, Henderson's relish not Lea & Perrin's Worcestershire Sauce.

"Absolutely shaking I was when I read this.

"My heart rate still hasn't come down. This needs bringing attention to."

He joked: "This contempt for one of the icons of the city whilst looking at two other icons is nothing short of condiment terrorism.

"A boycott until this is fixed should be promoted to the people. Things like this need checking before we allow businesses into the city.

"A massive oversight. Massive.

READ MORE: The Butcheress is "relieved" to have been paid the £17,000 owed by Worcester Warriors

"I do hope you'll join me in a boycott, in pressuring The Botanist to remedy this, in helping to protect what has taken our city and county worldwide. We owe it to The Sauce."

Councillor Richard Udall said he had received a number of angry comments from residents about the issue.

"We are a proud and a faithful sauce city, our heritage and history is important to us and we are proud of the hundreds of people who work hard producing the original Lea and Perrins Sauce. 

READ MORE: Worcester residents concerned about disappearance of fish sculpture 

 

"Any business coming to Worcester and not using Worcestershire Sauce in their cocktails would be rightly criticised, they would be showing disrespect to our city and to our great product. 

"However, they have assured me that they have responded to people pressure and will now be using our delightful sauce, we have won a victory for Lea and Perrins and the problem has been resolved, so a big thank you to the Botanist."

A spokesperson from The Botanist said: "We’re currently finalising our Worcester menus, which will be live ahead of our opening on 11th July.

"However, we are happy to confirm that our Bloody Mary cocktail will include Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce.

 

"Our talented kitchen and bar teams always consider local products and influences with every new venue opening.

"We can’t wait to welcome the residents of Worcester to our secret garden of food and drink."