The Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Andrew Ellis, has announced the return of the city’s prestigious Oyster Feast, taking place on Friday 23 October in the historic Moot Hall at Colchester Town Hall.
The Oyster Feast is one of Colchester’s oldest and most celebrated civic traditions, bringing together residents, dignitaries and invited guests to honour the city’s rich maritime heritage. Guests will enjoy a five-course meal (oysters optional), fine wines and an afternoon of entertainment in one of Colchester’s most historic settings.
The ticket price for this year’s Oyster Feast is £148 per person. However, thanks to the incredibly generous support of eight local sponsors, tickets are being offered to those selected through the ballot at £94 per person.
The sponsors for this year’s event are Daniel West, Tollgate Partnership Ltd, Anglian Flight Centres, Colne Valley Electrical (South) Ltd, Ellisons, Fenwick, Lion Walk and Surya Hotels Ltd.
Tickets will be allocated through a ballot system.
Residents wishing to enter the ballot can email mayorsoffice@colchester.gov.uk or submit a written application to:
The Civic Officer
c/o Mayor’s Parlour
Town Hall
Colchester
Alternatively, applications can be posted to:
Colchester City Council
33 Sheepen Road
Colchester CO3 3WG
Applications close on Thursday, 10 September 2026. Unless otherwise stated, all applications will be entered into the ballot for two tickets. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday, 18 September 2026.
The Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Andrew Ellis, said: “The Oyster Feast is a unique part of Colchester’s history and one of our city’s great civic traditions. It has been enjoyed by generations of Colcestrians, celebrating our remarkable heritage while bringing people together in the magnificent surroundings of the Moot Hall.
“I was particularly keen this year to make the Feast more accessible to local people, and I am enormously grateful to our sponsors for their incredibly generous support. Thanks to them, we have been able to reduce the ticket price from £148 to £94 per person.
“I appreciate that £94 is still a considerable amount of money, but I very much hope that this reduction will enable many more people to attend who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience this very special Colchester tradition.
“I would like to thank Daniel West, Tollgate Partnership Ltd, Anglian Flight Centres, Colne Valley Electrical (South) Ltd, Ellisons, Fenwick, Lion Walk and Surya Hotels Ltd for helping us make that possible.
“I’m really looking forward to welcoming our guests to what I hope will be a wonderful and memorable afternoon in the Moot Hall.”
Further details, including guest speakers and entertainment, will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information about the Mayor’s civic events, visit www.colchester.gov.uk/mayor.