Five hundred years after turkeys first arrived in Britain, we’re celebrating a Christmas favourite at The Gog.
A golden roast turkey arriving at the table is one of Christmas’s great moments. Conversation pauses, someone takes charge of carving, and everyone quietly hopes for their favourite bit.
This year, there’s an extra reason to celebrate. 2026 marks 500 years since turkeys are first recorded arriving in Britain, in 1526. It’s a story that takes us from Tudor banquets to East Anglian farms - and eventually to our own Christmas tables.
A Christmas tradition, centuries in the making
Brought to Europe from the Americas, turkeys found favour at the court of Henry VIII long before they became a familiar part of Christmas dinner.
There’s a local connection to their story, too. Before railways and refrigerated transport, flocks of turkeys were walked from farms in East Anglia to London’s markets. Getting Christmas dinner to the capital took rather more planning than it does today.
By the time Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol in 1843, turkey was a symbol of festive generosity. Scrooge’s gift to the Cratchit family helped cement its place in our Christmas imagination: a meal worth sharing, and something special at the centre of the table.
The return of the bronze turkey
Another chapter began in 1984, when the Kelly family launched their free-range KellyBronze, helping bring the traditional bronze turkey back to prominence.
For us, the people behind our food are part of what makes Christmas shopping enjoyable. Knowing the story behind your centrepiece gives you something more to share around the table - alongside the roast potatoes.
Why choose a whole turkey?
A whole bird brings plenty to the Christmas table. There’s delicate breast meat, richer dark meat, crisp golden skin and the roasting juices that make such good gravy.
It also offers something for everyone. Some families have firm opinions about who gets a leg; others have someone who considers carving their most important job of the day.
Choose a bird that suits your gathering and the enjoyment can carry on well beyond Christmas lunch. Think generously filled turkey sandwiches, a comforting pie or a fragrant curry. Even the carcass can become a delicious stock.
That’s an important part of a whole turkey’s value: several enjoyable meals from one carefully chosen bird.
Choosing your Christmas centrepiece
The best starting point is how many people you’re feeding—and whether you’d like leftovers. It’s also worth checking your oven and roasting tin before deciding on the size.
Our butchery team can help you choose a turkey to suit your plans and talk you through cooking it with confidence. Whether you’re hosting Christmas for the first time or have a well-established family routine, we’re always happy to chat.
Make it a Gog Christmas
Christmas ordering is now open, so you can start planning your festive table.
We’re also holding tastings every weekend until Christmas, sharing foods from our festive range, including Gog hams, cheese, beef and poultry. Come along, discover a few favourites and ask our team for ideas.
Five hundred years on, turkey still gives us a wonderful reason to gather, eat well and enjoy each other’s company.
Explore our Christmas range online, or come and talk Christmas food with us at The Gog.