Northern Ireland

First Titanic menu set to fetch £100,000 at auction

The Titanic, which was built in Belfast, leaving Southampton in April 1912. Picture from Associated Press
The Titanic, which was built in Belfast, leaving Southampton in April 1912. Picture from Associated Press The Titanic, which was built in Belfast, leaving Southampton in April 1912. Picture from Associated Press

A MENU of the first meal ever served on the Titanic is expected to fetch up to £100,000 at auction.

The lunch - including sweetbreads, spring lamb and pastries - was served during the liner's sea trials on April 2 in 1912.

Second Officer Charles Lightoller, the highest ranking surviving officer from the Titanic, owned the menu. He gave it to his wife as a souvenir as he left from Southampton on April 10 of that year.

More than 1,500 passengers and crew died when the Titanic struck an iceberg four days later.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "This menu is one of the most important examples of its type in existence today, simply superb a true blue chip item.

"It has a pre-sale estimate of between £80,000 to £100,000 because it ticks so many boxes.

"It is from most famous ship in the world, the first meal served on it and owned by its most senior surviving officer.

"It also has cross-collectable appeal. It will attract high-end Titanic collectors, those interested in food and fine dining and people who just like iconic objects."

Titanic was due to leave Belfast for Southampton on April 1, but this was postponed until the following day due to bad weather.

"During this day, the crew and the officers enjoyed their first meal on board the ship before she was joined by the passengers," Mr Aldridge said.

It is believed that only one other example of a menu from April 2 survives, belonging to Titanic's Fifth Officer Harold Lowe. The auction will take place on April 21.