Screaming Chimp is world-class chilli sauce made in Witton Gilbert – and the first chillis were grown here too.

Cragside resident Niall McKay-Mount said his friend Paul initially gave him some chilli seedings in 2015 when he was suffering from depression: “Grow them mate, they may take your mind off things.”

Niall developed sauce recipes and distributed to family and friends for special events and, in February 2016, trademarked the name Screaming Chimp. He launched operations in June.

The first of many years of awards came in 2017, and in the first three years Niall and Mrs. Chimp Vicky produced 30,000 bottles from the kitchen in Cragside.

In 2019 they outsourced some production – which helped them survive lockdown in 2020 – but Niall told us he still produces limited edition bottles, chimponnaise, chilli peanuts and designs new recipes at home.

After lockdown and arrival of baby Albi Edward, 2021 brought on board new stockists. The Screaming Chimp chilli sauces from the NorthEast are shipped worldwide to Australia , Belgium, Netherlands and the UAE, as well as lots of collaborations with top restaurants, pizza makers, burger shops and other great taste specialists.

Niall spends many of the weekdays in production and marketing at his local business. At weekends he is often on the road to shows to sell sauces, test recipes and meet new customers. The varieties available are:

• Chimpotle
• Chilli Oil
• Chimponnaise
• Original hot sauce
• Pineapple
• Screamer
• Mon-key Lime
• Rhubarb, Ginger and Chilli preserve – limited edition this June/July
• Chilli peanuts

What’s Niall’s advice for budding entrepreneurs in Witton Gilbert? He says: “Be prepared to change, and to pivot your operations” and “listen to advice, but don’t try to follow it all”.

Big events coming up are Windsor Food and Chilli Festival (29-30 June), Seaham Food Festival (3-4 August), North Shields Christmas Market (9-10 December) and many more. They also have regular stands at Hartlepool Marina market once a month and at Jesmond Market.

You can buy Screaming Chimp chilli sauces at:
Broom House Farm (DH7 6TR)
Holmside Farm Fresh (Whiteside Farm, Burnhope, DH7 0DR)
Market Cheese and Deli (Covered Market, Durham DH1 3NJ)
Northern Stores & Deli (Unit 14 Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, Durham DH1 3UJ
Or buy on the website, https://www.screamingchimp.com/.

Hashtags for social media #KeeponChimpin, #staysauceome and #Screamifyouwannagohotter. Screaming Chimp is also on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.