Oban Winter Festival names best Haggis of 2025

14 entries were battling it out for the coveted Golden Haggis and People’s Choice awards this year, including multiple chefs who have won the awards previously. 

Even Scottish and World Haggis Champions threw their hats in the ring to make a truly world class line up. 

Their creations had to impress the esteemed panel of judges and public opinion, no easy feat.

The competition was held at Oban Distillery on Sunday November 30 St Andrews Day, with all proceeds going to Oban High School Pipe Band, who began the competition by piping in 2024’s champions. 

This year’s judging panel featured two highly respected local food champions: multi-time Golden Haggis winner Mark Grant, formerly of Grant’s Butchers of Taynuilt, and Michael Leathley, award-winning Head Chef at the Pierhouse Hotel and Restaurant in Port Appin.

The competition has run annually since 2014, save for the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022. 

Both judges praised the exceptional standard of entries in this milestone year.

Judge Michael Leathley commented: “Haggis is an amazing dish and it’s really iconic. It’s alongside salmon and langoustines, and when people think of Scotland, they think of haggis.

"The standard’s so high. It’s amazing when you get to try all the different types together. When it’s good, it’s so good.”

Judge Mark Grant said: “It’s tricky because we’ve got previous winners of the Golden Haggis, previous winners of the People’s Choice, previous Scottish champions, previous world champions. It just proves there’s something for everyone in haggis.”