Pork Scratchings are known as Hairy Bar Snacks - News 2008 Page


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It's what we call Pork Scratchings
HBS PORK SCRATCHING NEWS 2008

7th December 2008
Oz and James' big wine adventure is on the BBC
Series 3: Oz and James 'Drink to Britain, starts 6th January 8.00 - 8.30.
Hopefully they will be showing the Pork Scratchings we sourced for them, but don't hold your breath!
Click here to see what 'Hairy Bar Snacks' did for the Production.
BBC page
RDF TV page

19th December 2008
Ear shaped pork scratching for sale on ebay.
Click here to read more about it

9th November 2008
New Supplier website, from Uncle Albert's... Different products to suit different tastes, All traditionally hand cooked and carefully seasoned to perfection.
Click here to read more about it

31st August 2008
Oz and James' Big Wine adventure series three will be featuring a pork scratching tasting, with hairy snacks supplied by us!
Click here to read more about it

15th August 2008
A new review
Green Top Snacks - Original Pork Scratchings

14th August 2008
A visit to the Great British Beer Festival!
See the pics and read the news

13th August 2008
Ladies Tee Shirts!

3rd August 2008
What's all this about? http://www.lastfm.jp/group/pork+scratchings

18th July 2008
Another new review by Alicia Fourie the 'foody cat blog'. the Best EVER! scratchings, take a look more brilliant scratchings!

31st July 2008
Mr Porky has has a redesign.
Click here to see the new Mr Porky site

30th July 2008
Billy Abbot says, "One of the most excellent examples of a hairy scratching that I have ever seen. Provided by the Crusty Pork Pie Company at the GBBF 2005. There have been many more hairy scratchings at the GBBF since."
Click here to see the hairy scratching

21th July 2008
Click here to see the biggest pile of pork scratchings ever!

19th July 2008
See the Flickr group: 'Pork Scratching Packaging', it's a pretty good start, you can add some pics to it if you like. Click here to see the flickr group
and
See the Flickr group: 'Warning On The Package Of Mr. Porky Pork Scratchings', I'm sure they are not that hard are they?. Click here to see the 'Warning'

18th July 2008
FANTASTIC, a new review by Alicia Fourie the 'foody cat blog'. Scratchings from a restaurant called Wahaca, take a look. Foody Cat Blog

17th July 2008
One pub we missed on the The 2nd Hairy Bar Snacks Pub Evening.
The Good Intent, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Essex

9th July 2008
The 4th Hairy Bar Snacks Pub Evening (Ongar) - A night of pints, looking for pork scratchings, visiting as many pubs as possible.
  1. The Cock Tavern, Ongar, Essex
  2. The Kings Inn, Ongar, Essex
  3. The Royal Oak, Ongar, Essex
8th July 2008
A great London website, with a groovy Pub section.
You can take a virtual trip through photographs, and see a vibrant city at work and play, if you have never been to London before, or if you are a constant visitor, you can relive your dreams once again.
Click here to visit Knowledge of London

23rd May 2008
The 3rd Hairy Bar Snacks Pub Evening (Mayfair & Soho, London) - A night of pints, visiting as many pubs as possible.
  1. The Coach and Horses, Mayfair, London
  2. The Guinea Grill, Mayfair, London
  3. The Grosvenor Arms, Mayfair, London
  4. The Iron Duke, Mayfair, London
  5. The Masons Arms, Mayfair, London
  6. The Windmill, Mayfair, London
  7. The Blue Posts, Soho, London
  8. The Red Lion, Soho, London
  9. Two Floors, Soho, London
5th May 2008
Ask Mario - a free monthly food newsletter.
Click here to see Ask Mario

28th March 2008
The 2nd Hairy Bar Snacks Pub Evening - A night of half pints, visiting as many pubs as possible.
  1. The Cock and Magpie, Epping Green, Essex
  2. The Travellers Friend, Epping Green, Essex
  3. The Black Swan, Waltham Abbey, Essex
  4. The Sun Inn, Waltham Abbey, Essex
  5. The King Harold's Head, Nazeing, Essex
  6. The Coach and Horses, Waltham Abbey, Essex
  7. The Wheatsheaf, Waltham Abbey, Essex
  8. The Horseshoes, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Essex
25th March 2008
New Pork Scratchings website - at the moment, it seems like a one page affair.
Click here to see www.pigbits.com

21st March 2008
The 1st Hairy Bar Snacks Pub Evening - A night of half pints, visiting as many pubs as possible.
  1. The Moletrap, Theydon Mount, Epping, Essex
  2. The Rabbits, Stapleford Tawney, Essex
  3. The Alma Arms, Navestock, Essex
  4. The Green Man, Navestock, Essex
  5. The White Horse, Brentwood, Essex
  6. The Dog and Partridge, Kelevedon Hatch, Essex
  7. The Shepherd Inn, Doddinghurst, Essex
  8. The Eagle, Kelevedon Hatch, Essex
  9. The Stag, Ongar, Essex
18th March 2008
Number plate madness Someone has HBS'd their car!
Look at this, it's great

18th March 2008
New Pub The Merry Fiddlers - Fiddlers Hamlet, Coopersale
This could be my new local! take a look

17th March 2008
The Coach and Horses - Soho - London - NOW SELL SCRATCHINGS!
Click here to take a look

18th January 2008
Lessons From The Land Of Pork Scratchings: A Miserable Yank Discovers The Secret Of Happiness In Britain by Greg Gutfeld
Greg Gutfeld was a high-achieving, slim but anxious New Yorker in therapy when he was posted to the UK to take up the position of editor of Maxim magazine. Once settled in London he had something of a cultural epiphany. Service and transport were poor and slow, food was soggy and came in tiny portions and the beer was warm. The British, he decided, viewed the world through a prism of dreariness but, despite this, they seemed to be more cheerful than his fellow countrymen, who expected to be happy on demand. After two years in the UK, Gutfeld was 12 kilos heavier but a lot more content. The key to his new-found contentment lay in adopting the British attitude to life: he too had learned that having diminished expectations reaps its own rewards. His hilarious observations on British culture, rituals and peculiarities at all levels of society are an illuminating insight into the land of pubs and curry, where everyone is called 'mate' and people with pimples, wrinkles and greasy hair can get on primetime TV.
click here to take a look his the book!

15th January 2008
Paul Gray - was half way through his packet of Best Ever Mr Porky Pork Scratchings, he was shocked to discover a beautiful gem of a scratching.
click here to take a look at it!

13th January 2008
Stewart Paterson live in France - he has a blog about this.
This week he made scratchings and gave us a credit.
How to save money on supermarket pork promos and make Pork Scratchings along the way.

11th January 2008
We are off to a good start! - 2 new pubs that are not in London.
The Norman Conquest - Middlesborough - North Yorkshire.
The Hanbury Arms - Bargoed - Mid Glamorgan.

10th January 2008
Beer Website - The beer expert!
Have a look, you might learn a thing or two.

5th January 2008
New Pub - The King Harold - Harold Wood - Essex
Have a look, you might read this and want to go there!

4th January 2008
PICKLED EGGS
Along with the new design for pages, we have added a pickled eggs indicator. Does the pub reviewed sell pickled eggs or not. We feel this is very important.

2nd January 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR
We have re-coded the bars and reviews sections of the site. We have improved the look / layout of the pages, which we hope you like. However all old links to the old pages will no longer go to the old pages, just the index page of each section. If you have a link to us, you might want to update them so that they continue to work.
PORK SCRATCHING NEWS ARCHIVE:
LATEST NEWS 2010
HBS NEWS 2009
HBS NEWS 2008
HBS NEWS 2007
HBS NEWS 2006
HBS NEWS 2005



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This website contains; pork scratchings reviews, pictures of bags, pictures of pork scratchings, the history of scratchings,
and even pork scratching T-shirts! We hope you like what you find, and would love you to contribute too.

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We have pub reviews for the following public houses;
Alma Arms, Navestock, Essex | Anchor, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire | Approach Tavern, Bethnal Green, London | Bath House, Soho, London | Bell Inn, Castle Hedingham, Essex | Black Deer, Loughton, Essex | Black Lion, Epping, Essex | Black Swan, Waltham Abbey, Essex | Blue Anchor, Hammersmith, London | Blue Boar, Abridge, Essex | Blue Posts, Piccadilly, London | Blue Posts, Soho, London | Blue Posts, Soho, London | Buccaneer, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire | Bull, Theydon Bois, Essex | Carpenter's Arms, Loughton, Essex | Charles Lamb, Islington, London | Chequers, Barkingside, Essex | Cittie of Yorke, Chancery Lane, London | Coach and Horses, Soho, London | Coach and Horses, Waltham Abbey, Essex | Coach and Horses, Mayfair, London | Cock and Magpie, Epping Green, Essex | Cock Tavern, Ongar, Essex | Cross keys, Covent Garden, London | Doctor Johnson, Barkingside/Clayhall, Essex | Dog and Duck, Soho, London | Dog and Partridge, Kelevedon Hatch, Essex | Duke of Wellington, Epping, Essex | Duke of York, Clerkenwell, London | Durham Arms, Romford, Essex | Eagle, Kelevedon Hatch, Essex | Forest Gate Inn, Epping, Essex | Forester, Chigwell, Essex | Forresters, High Ongar, Essex | Garnon Bushes, Coopersale, Epping, Essex | George, Soho, London | Globe, Epping, Essex | Good Intent, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Essex | Green Man, Navestock, Essex | Greyhound Inn, Midhurst, West Sussex | Grosvenor Arms, Mayfair, London | Guinea Grill, Mayfair, London | Gum Tree Pub, Kardamena, Kos - Greece | Hanbury Arms, Bargoed, Mid Glamorgan | Henry Holland, Marylebone, London | Hollybush, Loughton, Essex | Horseshoes, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Essex | Iron Duke, Mayfair, London | Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell, London | King Harold, Harold Wood, Essex | King Harold's Head, Nazeing, Essex | Kings Inn, Ongar, Essex | Labouring Man, Pulborough, West Sussex | Lamb and Flag, Covent Garden, London | Masons Arms, Mayfair, London | Maypole, Chigwell Row, Essex | Merry Fiddlers, Fiddlers Hamlet, Coopersale, Essex | Moletrap, Theydon Mount, Epping, Essex | Nags Head, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury | Norman Conquest, Middlesborough, North Yorkshire | Old Coffee House, Soho, London | Old Kings Head, London Bridge, London | Olde Red Lion Inn, Tredegar, Wales | Owl and Pussycat, Shoreditch, London | Pied Piper, Ormesby, North Yorkshire | Plasnewydd, Bargoed, Wales | Queen Victoria, Theydon Bois, Essex | Rabbits, Stapleford Tawney, Essex | Red Lion, Thames Ditton, Surrey | Red Lion, Soho, London | Rising Sun, Brentwood, Essex | Rose and Crown, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex | Royal Oak, Ongar, Essex | Shepherd Inn, Doddinghurst, Essex | Ship, Burnham on Crouch, Essex | Smugglers, El Gouna, Egypt | Stag, Ongar, Essex | Star and Garter, Soho, London | Sun Inn, Waltham Abbey, Essex | Three Colts, Buckhurst Hill, Essex | Travellers Friend, Epping Green, Essex | Two Floors, Soho, London | Wheatsheaf, Castle Hedingham, Essex | Wheatsheaf, Loughton, Essex | Wheatsheaf, Waltham Abbey, Essex | Wheatsheaf, Soho, London | White Horse, Soho, London | White Horse, Brentwood, Essex | Windmill, Mayfair, London | Yorkshire Grey, Fitzrovia, London | 


We have reviews for the following brands of pork scratchings;
Ace Scratchings - Big Bag Pork Scratchings | Ace Scratchings - Black Country Traditional Pork Scratchings | Ace Scratchings - Pork Crunch | Ace Scratchings - Q Pork Crackling | Ace Scratchings - Thampiggin'Bostin' Pork Scratchin' | Albert Heijn - Knabbelbacon | Albert Heijn - Knabbelspek | B.N. - Finest Pork Scratchings | Big D - Finest Pork Scratchings, Clear Bag | Big D - Pork Crunch | Big D - Pork Scratchings | Bobby's - Pork Crackles | Bobby's - Pork Crackles | Bobby's - Pork Crackles | Crocodile Snacks - Pork Scratchings | Crown Park Foods - Bar Snax | D & S - Pork Crackles | D & S - Traditional Pork Crunch | D & S - Traditional Pork Crunch (Foil Pack) | Freshers - Top Notch Pork Crackling | Freshers - Top Notch Pork Scratchings | Freshers Foods - Butchers Gold Label | Freshers Foods - Butchers Pork Crackling | G. Simmons & Sons - Pork Crunch | G. Simmons & Sons - Pork Scratchings | Green Top Snacks - Hot & Spicy Pork Crunch | Green Top Snacks - Original Pork Scratchings | Green Top Snacks - Original Pork Scratchings | Green Top Snacks - Pork Scratchings | Green Top Snacks - Pork Scratchings | Green Top Snacks - Quality Pork Crackling | Green Top Snacks - Quality Pork Crackling | Jay's - Pork Scratchings | Jay's - Pork Scratchings | Jay's - Tasty Pork Crunch | KP - Double Roasted Pork Scratchings | KP - Double Roasted Pork Scratchings | KP - Double Roasted Pork Scratchings | KVE - Pan Cooked Pork Cracklins | KVE - Tasty Pork Scratchings | KVE - Tasty Pork Scratchings | KVE - Traditional Butchers Pork Scratchings | KVE - Traditional Butchers Pork Scratchings | Midland Snacks - Pork Crunch, Clear Bag | Midland Snacks - Traditional Pork Scratchings | Midland Snacks - Traditional Pork Scratchings | Midland Snacks - Traditional Pork Scratchings, Clear Bag | Midland Snacks - Traditional Pork Scratchings, Clear Bag | Montefrio Pork Rinds - tirita de jamón curado (it shivers of cured ham?) | Morrisons - Pork Crunch | Morrisons - Pork Scatchings | Morrisons - Pork Scatchings | Morrisons - Pork Scatchings | Mr Crackling - Seasoned Pork Rind | Mr Porky - Brown Sauce Crispy Bacon Bites | Mr Porky - Pork Crackles | Mr Porky - Pork Crackles | Mr Porky - Pork Crunch | Mr Porky - Pork Scratchings | Mr Porky - Prime Cut Scratchings | Mr Porky - Tomato Sauce Crispy Bacon Bites | Mr P's - Pork Scratchings | Mr Scratchings - Pork Crunch | Mr Scratchings - Pork Scratchings | Nelson's Head - Aunt Fanny's Scratchings (Home Made) | Pub Original - Pork Crunch | Pub Original - Pork Scratchings | Pub Original - Pork Scratchings | Ray Gray - Crackling | Ray Gray - Pork Crackling with Apple Sauce Dip | Ray Gray - Pork Crackling with Apple Sauce Dip, pot | Ray Gray - Scratchings | Ray Gray - Scratchings | Ray Gray - Scratchings | Red Mill - Pork Crackles | Red Mill - Pork Crackles | Ricks - Clear Bag Scratchings | Ricks - Quality Pork Scratchings | RTP - Black Country Original Pork Scratchings, Quarters | RTP - Black Country Original Pork Scratchings, Quarters, Clear Bag | RTP - Porky Quality Pork Crunch | RTP - Porky Quality Pork Scratchings | Shakey's - Traditional Black Country Pork Scratchings | Shakey's - Traditional Black Country Pork Scratchings | Stour Valley Foods - Pork Scratchings | T.J. - Big Bag Pork Scratchings | T.J. - Original Pork Crunch | Tavern Snacks - Pork Scratchings | Tavern Snacks - Pork Scratchings | Uncle Alberts - Barnsley Pig, Pork Crackling | Uncle Alberts - Barnsley Pig, Pork Crunch | Uncle Alberts - Scratchings | Whittles Crisps - Gluten Free Black Country Pork Scratchings | Yorkshire Produce | 


Pork Scratchings are not the same Pork Rinds even though both are snack foods made from pig skin. Pork Scratchings are heavier, harder and have a crispy layer of fat under the skin, flavoured with salt.

The consensus of opinion is that they originated in the West Midlands or Black Country. The Black Country is named after it's roots in the industrial revolution and continuing role as a centre of heavy engineering and mining which in days gone by was said to cover the area in grime and soot.

It would seem that Pork Scratchings were very much a food of the working classes with origins back in the 1800's when it was produced as part of the tradition of families keeping their own pig at home and feeding it up for slaughter.

In modern times the fine layer of hair is removed from the skin by burning, however this is not 100% effective and some pieces still have the hair attatched. This makes these snacks definately not for the faint hearted.

Butchers started selling Pork Scratchings in the 1930's, calling it Crackling (A word synonymous with pork scratchings in the UK). It was soft underneath and crunchy on top.