British cuisine, cars to be on display Saturday on Massachusetts Street

It may seem as if one section of Massachusetts Street has been transported to jolly old England Saturday.

The custard tart contest, the Scotch eggs and the vintage British cars parked all in a row will be clues that you are there, in front of Brits, the Anglophile shop at 929 Massachusetts St. The British cuisine will be part of the store’s celebration of the Big Lunch, a British holiday, and the cars will be part of the Lawrence All British Car Club’s annual car show.

Altogether, it will turn that immediate area into a Little London as the public will be invited to buy a snack, celebrate the 60th anniversary of the queen of England’s coronation, and check out some restored old British racing cars between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Big Lunch is a British holiday that brings neighbors outside to eat lunch together and celebrate community. Sally Helm, owner of Brits, said her store will be serving a lunch of British-style sandwiches and other delicacies such as Scotch eggs — hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage and deep-fried with bread crumbs. Those will be prepared locally by Matt Poulton, an England native and across-the-pond-style chef, who used to run Queen Lizzy’s Fish and Chips Shop at 125 E. 10th St. and now operates Queen Lizzy’s Catering.

“You can’t export that kind of thing from Britain,” Helm said, adding that she plans to keep some of Poulton’s foods in stock at the store. “You have to make it.”

The British car show happens to coincide with Brits’ Big Lunch, and founding car club member James McKenzie, of Lawrence, said it’s hard to say how many cars will be there. The club has reserved 12 parking spaces in front of Brits, where passersby can expect to see all makes and models of British cars from the ’60s, ’70s or even earlier. Club member Brian Kelly is planning to show his red 1934 MGPA, which will likely be the oldest car there.

Those who get caught up in the British-ness of it all will be quickly reminded that they are still in Lawrence. The Art Tougeau Parade is set to begin at noon on Massachusetts Street, with moving pieces of artwork such as decorated bikes and cars, including a locally built Batmobile.