20 traditional British dishes at risk of extinction – and the dates we might lose them
Great Britain is known for its comfort food – from hearty pies to warming stews – but it seems many traditional dishes from around the UK are at risk of extinction over the next five years.
The likes of the Glamorgan sausage and pan haggerty – not to mention the shepherd’s pie – could be at risk according to a new study, as well as traditional sweet treats such as rock cakes and Chelsea buns.
The survey, carried out by kitchen appliance brand Ninja, identified the top 20 savoury and sweet dishes most likely to vanish, as well as the dates we might lose them from the culinary world.
Topping the first list is the Glamorgan sausage – expected to decline later this year, with a predicted extinction date of 16th November, 2025. The Tatws Pum Munud (a Welsh stew) will follow shortly after, with a pre-Christmas extinction date of the 14th December 2025.
The pan haggerty (a Northumbrian vegetarian side dish) also placed within the top five, expected to diminish in summer 2026, alongside a surprising entry – the shepherd's pie, which is predicted to go extinct in June 2027.
Welsh lamb and cheese and onion pie also placed within the top 10, alongside Panackelty (a meat casserole from Northeast England).
10 British dishes at risk of extinction
Glamorgan sausage - 16/11/25
Tatws Pum Munud - 14/12/25
Vegan roast dinner - 12/07/26
Pan haggerty - 12/07/26
Shepherd's pie - 13/06/27
Nut roast - 07/11/27
Vegan pie - 04/06/28
Welsh lamb - 08/04/29
Cheese and onion pie 22/07/29
Panackelty - 02/09/29
On the sweet side of things, Welsh treat teisen lap took first place, with an alarming-soon extinction date of May 2025. While rock cakes, Chelsea buns and wheaten bread all placed within the top five – alongside the Victoria sponge cake. According to the research, all of these sweet treats are expected to die out by July 2027.
Food and travel writer Karen Burns-Booth – who has recently partnered with Country Living for a series on Secret British Bakes – says she’s shocked by the list that’s peppered with afternoon tea classics.
She tells Country Living: “Included in the list, shockingly, were Victoria sponge cake, rock cakes, scones and jam tarts. Surely not, as these are the mainstay recipes of afternoon tea (or cream tea), quaint English tearooms and the family tea time table.
"Also included in the list were Chelsea buns, and rhubarb crumble, which also seemed unbelievable. Who doesn’t love a bowl of rhubarb crumble doused in creamy custard, or a squidgy fruited bun with a cup of tea?”
She adds: “Other “at risk” dishes which appear on the savoury list of recipes, are regional favourites I grew up with such as shepherd’s pie, cheese and onion pie, as well as pan haggerty and panackelty, both of which hail from the northeast of England.
“It seems incredible that these comforting family meals are on their way out, and I’d be very upset if they ultimately fell out of favour, as they represent the communities in which they originate.
“There are a few traditional Welsh dishes and bakes on the list, all of which I have made and have shared the recipes on my website in the past; namely Glamorgan sausages, Welsh lamb, and teisen lap, which is a delicious Welsh fruit cake.”
Karen, known as @lavenderandlovage on Instagram, tells us she’s now on a mission to make sure these dishes don't die out. “Not on my watch anyway,” she adds.
“My plan is to bake them for the Warm Space Hub I volunteer at every week, as well as make sure they are regular guests on my weekly Sunday tea tray.
“Food trends come and go, but some of the recipes listed seem all together totally out of tune to what home cooks regularly bake, and what you’ll find on a quintessential British tea room menu or in a pub.
“I’m aghast at what appears on these lists and plan to save them all with the help of recipes on my website and social media accounts.”
10 British puddings at risk of extinction
Teisen lap 06/04/25
Rock cakes 15/02/26
Chelsea buns 09/08/26
Wheaten bread - 28/02/27
Victoria sponge cake - 23/05/27
Gypsy tart - 31/10/27
Scones - 30/01/28
Rhubarb compote - 29/10/28
Banbury cakes - 03/12/28
Jam tarts - 01/07/29
Country Living Pewter Whitstable Kitchen
Sophie Allport Bee Vintage Apron, Green
Sophie Allport Bee Cotton Apron, Green/Multi
Country Living Honeypot Mug - Duck Egg
4 Floral Egg Cup Buckets
4 Floral Egg Cup Buckets
KitchenAid Stand Mixer, Almond Cream
€499.00 at John Lewis & Partners
KitchenAid Stand Mixer, Almond Cream
€499.00 at John Lewis & Partners
White Stacking 12 Piece Dinner Set
Stoneware Sage Gloss 12 Piece Dinner Set
Country Living Deep Blue Whitstable Kitchen
Country Living Deep Blue Whitstable Kitchen
Global Ikat Double Oven Glove
You Might Also Like
