It started in 2018. Images of meticulously sliced crustless bread encasing perfectly pink slabs of Iberico pork began doing the rounds on Instagram. A sandwich, but elevated to art form. The katsu sando, a Japanese export introduced to us by TaTa Eatery in London, became the cult foodie dish of the moment and ushered in a new wave of high-end sarnies.

While the katsu sando may have once again drawn our attention to the humble practice of placing fillings between bread, the signs of a sandwich revival have been there for a while. Max’s Sandwich Shop in north London gained a fervent following after it opened in 2014 to serve hefty focaccia sandwiches to hungry post-work crowds. And in 2016, four friends from Liverpool founded Finca, which went on to win £150,000 in funding after appearing on BBC Two’s My Million Pound Menu with their grilled Cubano sandwiches, packed with mojo pork shoulder and gouda cheese.

Bored of over-processed, meal-deal BLTs inhaled at our desks, the new breed of sandwiches are worth taking your time over, made using high-quality ingredients and designed to be savoured, not scoffed.

Last year the trend really began to take off, with a bricks-and-mortar opening from submarine specialists Sub Cult, while the founders of Michelin-starred Pidgin launched sandwich shop Sons + Daughters in King’s Cross in September, serving gourmet options such as egg and miso mayo with truffle crisps.

The best gourmet sandwiches in the UK (and yes, the katsu sando is included)