Colchester Opening of the Oyster Fishery

The Colne Oyster Fishery at Colchester dates back many hundreds of years and it is officially opened by the Mayor and Dignitaries on the first friday in September each year. The opening ceremony dates back to the mid sixteenth century and involves the reading of a tongue-twisting proclamation and the consumption of gin and gingerbread with toasts to the Queen, followed by an oyster lunch for invited guests. Depending on a range of circumstances including the seaworthiness of the Mayor, the officials in their regalia usually take to the waves aboard an oyster dredger followed by a flotilla of  guests in smaller craft, or occasionally the ceremony may take place on dry land. The boat may need to be some distance out to sea if the tide is low, in which case you can watch the arrival of the dignitaries at the Hard and their embarkation but you won’t be able to hear the Proclamation from the shore; the best view of the boat when we attended was from the end of the row of beach huts.

Helpful Hints

In 2025 it should be on Friday September 5th, yet to be announced if on land or on board ship this year.

In 2019 the ceremony was on board the Hydrogen, departing from Brightlingsea Hard at around 11 am prior to the ceremony at noon, and the socially distanced ceremony in 2020 (without a public event) was on land at Cudmore Grove. The public event has now returned.

Click here for the Civic website and Mayor’s Office : http://www.colchester.gov.uk