Earl Of Sandwich has returned to the UK!

Before I go any further; allow me to introduce you to the backstory behind what has become an incredibly popular dining establishment in the US and now at two locations within Europe too:

"In 1762, John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, was a First Sea Lord, commander of the British Navy and a noted explorer. He was also a gambler with a love of playing card games whilst navigating the waterways of the world - that's the perfect way to spend those long days at sea. According to the company, this led to very little time for food, so he ingeniously came up with the idea of putting meat between two slices of bread. Thus the sandwich was born!

Fast-forward to the present day, the current 11th Earl and the Sandwich family are still as passionate about world's most popular quick food and have continued to ensure the world's most popular lunch item can be enjoyed by young and old."

The menu itself is a scaled-down version to what's offered across the pond, however you'll be pleased to know the Earl's most popular items do make an appearance; including the Original 1762 and The Full Montagu. I also learned that there is a featured "sandwich of the month"; which could include the famous Holiday Turkey or Tuna Melt.

Spoiler alert: Next month (February), the Hawaiian BBQ will be making an appearance. That's Grilled Chicken, Ham, Swiss Cheese, Pineapple and BBQ sauce.

I'm not going to go through the entire menu, but if you didn't like anything featured; the staff are more than happy to create a sandwich to your requirements - and it's all served on freshly baked artisan bread.

Each menu-item is individually priced, but as guide sandwiches, wraps and salads start from a competitive £5.00; which is pretty good value compared to other eateries within the 300+ retail venue; plus you are getting way more than a two slices of bread - you're experiencing a piece of history!

The Original 1762
Roast Beef, Mature Cheddar & Horseradish Sauce

The Full Montagu
Roast Beef, Turkey, Swiss & Mature Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes & Earls Mustard Sauce

The Earl’s Club
Roasted Turkey, Smoked Bacon, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes & Sandwich Sauce

If a sandwich isn't your thing and you're looking for something else, Earl of Sandwich also serve up a variety of salads, fully-loaded wraps and even pizzas! But whatever you do, make sure you save some room for a treat for the bakery. The brownies are freshly made on site each morning using Ghirardelli Chocolate, delicious!

The great thing at Earl of Sandwich is that you can actually see the food being prepared right in front of you, knowing that everything is fresh and used all-natural ingredients.

Bluewater was chosen as the location for The Earl's return to the UK as it attracts more than 28.1 million visitors per year and the brand have seized on the opportunity to introduce a sort-of "Grab and Go"counter. This is where a selection of sandwiches are ready-made and available for customers to pick-up and enjoy if they are pressed for time.

I had the opportunity to meet with some of the team behind bringing Earl of Sandwich back to the UK and it's great to meet people who are so passionate about food, customer service, and whom love to receive feedback from their fans. I learned from their Operations Manager that feedback is one of the best ways the brand can look to enhance their products and cater to the local market. An example of this would be the addition of lightly spiced potato wedges.

Looking to the future, Earl of Sandwich in the UK are looking to enhancing their breakfast offerings (which features Hash Browns!), expanding the current menu and launching a loyalty card scheme... So watch this space!

Whenever I am on my travels, if I happen to be near one of Earl of Sandwich's locations, you'll most likely find that I would have visited and enjoyed something from their menu... it's a nice reminder of home to be honest.

Thanks to the team at Earl of Sandwich UK for a delicious experience and I strongly recommend you pay a visit when you're next in the beautiful county of Kent.

Be sure to stop by Earl of Sandwich at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent, DA9 9ST.
For more information, don't forget to visit their website and keep up to date with them on facebook and twitter.

Disclaimer: I was a guest of Earl of Sandwich UK on this visit to Bluewater, however as always - all views are my own.