There are very few things as synonymous with British culture as the humble sausage roll. So, it seems only right that an entire day in the diary is dedicated to the beloved baked good. That’s right, folks – today (June 5) marks National Sausage Roll Day. And to honour the mighty meaty occasion, Greggs and the Design Museum have joined forces with Royal embroiders, Hawthorne & Heaney, to create what can only be described as a modern-day masterpiece.
An 8-metre long, elaborately embroidered tapestry has (sausage) rolled into the Design Museum, courtesy of the firm favourite fast-food chain and the expert embroiderers. The ‘Ta-Pastry’ features 6 intricately illustrated chapters, detailing the backstory of the legendary Greggs sausage roll (a million of which are sold a day); enabling visitors to sink their teeth into the history of the iconic snack.
The Ta-Pastry has gone on display as a playful nod to the Bayeux Tapestry – which returns to London later this year for the first time in almost a millennium. Featuring a whopping 5.5 million stitches and having taken a rather jaw-dropping 200 hours to complete; the narrative of the Ta-Pastry spans almost a century. And it will illustrate the story of the sausage roll from its early beginnings to its world victory.
Zoe Harris, Customer Director at Greggs, said: “The Greggs Sausage Roll is woven into the very fabric of British culture, which is why for National Sausage Roll Day we’ve partnered with master royal embroiderers and the Design Museum to create an 8-metre ‘Ta-Pastry’. Just as the Bayeux Tapestry captured a turning point in history, this 200-hour hand-stitched masterpiece is a fitting tribute to this much-loved British icon – because some legends deserve more than just a paper bag.”
Tim Marlow, Chief Executive and Director at the Design Museum, said: “Greggs is a great British brand and what better way to mark National Sausage Roll Day than by immortalising this humble pastry in a tapestry? It will be unlike any other woven artwork ever created and a mouth-watering appetiser for the Bayeux mania to come.”
The Ta-Pastry will be on display at the Design Museum from 10am to 6pm on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. It’s completely free to visit and no booking is required.
