Brat's all folks - no festive 'Sausage Man' return

Derby's "Sausage Man" has said he is "gutted and sad" not to be returning to the city for the festive season.

For many, the arrival of Charlie Pearson's sizzling sausage stall had signalled the start of Christmas for the last 14 years.

However, Mr Pearson said he was not coming back this season as trade took a turn for the wurst when his wooden cabin was moved from Cornmarket to a trailer near the Derbion shopping centre by Derby City Council last year.

The council said it "valued" food traders and worked "closely with stallholders to accommodate their needs".

Mr Pearson said his takings were down by about 75% in the new spot in St Peter's Street last year and he tried trading again earlier this year on the same street.

He added: "I came back to the city earlier this year in the spring to see how it might go in a different spot.

"It was a complete disaster."

The food seller said he would not return to Derby unless a compromise could be reached with the city council.

"I'll miss the people of Derby. I want to thank everyone who came over the years," he said.

Mr Pearson, from Felixstowe, said he originally came to Derby when a friend asked him to run the German sausage stall at a Christmas market.

He has a stall in his hometown in Suffolk and also sells his bangers at Glastonbury but decided to come back to Derby every year.

"That spot on Cornmarket was fantastic... but the breaking of tradition killed the business.

"Last year was just awful and I couldn't put myself through it again. I was making a fraction of what I used to.

"People would walk past me in the new spot not realising it was me - not realising it was the same sausages," he said.

He said he had fond memories of trading in Derby over the years.

"It was part of families' Christmases and kids grew up with it on Cornmarket.

"Even during the pandemic, we had the biggest queues we've ever had because, of course, people couldn't go into restaurants at times.

"It brought people together," Mr Pearson said.

A city council spokesperson said Mr Pearson could not run his stall on Cornmarket last year as it was a key area for the Festive Derby Light Trail.

"However, we were able to offer a suitable alternative location in the city centre," the spokesperson said.

Mr Pearson said he was also told by the council he would need to apply for planning permission if he wanted to use his cabin in a new location "because of the length of time your temporary structure will be put up" and he downgraded to a trailer as a result.

A spokesperson for the council added: "Food traders are a valued part of Festive Derby and we work closely with stallholders to accommodate their needs."

Mr Pearson said he had had messages from regulars this year to say they were missing his culinary treats.

Despite suffering ill health recently, he said he was still hoping to return to the city in the future.

"I'm awaiting test results," he said. "It's been a really tough year compounded by the fact I lost a huge chunk of my livelihood last year.

"I hope it won't be the last time but for now, I just want to finish by saying thank you, again, to all the friends we made in Derby."

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