A LONG-STANDING tradition will be broken later this year when the annual Oyster Feast is held outside Moot Hall for the first time in more than a century. 

The annual event has run since 1845 and sees revellers enjoy a banquet featuring fresh oysters, dredged from the newly opened Colne Oyster Fisheries, as well as hear from a collection of guest speakers.

The event is one of the biggest and most important in Colchester’s civic calendar, and attracts the borough’s most recognisable faces each year.

But with the crumbling Moot Hall under repair, the Oyster Feast will instead be held at the Talbooth restaurant in Dedham rather than the 121-year-old venue.

It is the first time the Oyster Feast has been held outside Moot Hall since 1906, having been held in the Corn Exchange before then.

The event takes place on Friday, October 27 at the cost of £110 per ticket.

It is not the first time Moot Hall has closed for repairs in recent months, with the venue shutting in January whilst repairs were carried out on the ceiling.

It was then reopened the following month.

The cost of the temporary repair work, which was carried out by a specialist contractor was approximately £7,000.

Gazette: Griff Rhys Jones at a previous Oyster FeastGriff Rhys Jones at a previous Oyster Feast

Moot Hall then closed again in May after further problems were identified with the structural integrity of the roof, with a spokesman for Colchester Council saying the venue would remain shut for "a prolonged period of time".

Colchester mayor John Jowers, who for decades was a fisherman in Mersea, said the event is still a proud civic occasion.

He said: “As a former local fisherman, I know that Colchester has a long and proud maritime connection – the city’s history of oyster fishing is a testament to this, and the Oyster Feast is a celebration of that history.

Gazette: A previous Oyster Feast in the Moot HallA previous Oyster Feast in the Moot Hall

“It is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and enjoy some of our wonderful local oysters.”

“I would like to invite residents to apply for tickets to this year's feast.

“It is a truly unique and special event.”

A public ballot for tickets can be entered by members of the public by emailing mayor@colchester.gov.uk, and attaching their name, address and telephone number.