For all you meat lovers out there, a suggestion

rustyboy21

Hi all

The supermarkets have killed off our local butchers businesses all over the country and you are hard pressed to find one still open.

I would like to suggest that you try and hunt out a local farm butcher shop, which are springing up now everywhere.

Approx 18 months ago, on a country drive 30 mins away from home, we came accross a sign for a butcher out in the sticks. We called in and had a look around. It was summer time and the cattle were in the fields. The meat is all 21 day hung, barley and grass fed, the fillet seaks were to die for, a normal knife could go through it no probs. 2 fillet steaks, size approx 4'' x 3'' x 1'' came to £7.00 !

Large piece of topside approx 18'' long, £20, free range chickens £6.00, 5lb of best mince £10 !

All the beef, they grew themselves, pork from farm next door, chickens from farm up the road. Got an Organic bronze turkey 13lb weight this xmas for £43 ! they were £60+ in tesco's.

The meat stays the same size cooked as it was raw, no pumping of water to make it bigger.

I know it may not be to everyones ability to find shops like this, but around Lancashire, where I live, they seem to be springing up more and more. It is great to be able to get meat is it used to be again, instead of the bright pink meat found in the shops and at a cheaper price. The place I go to every month and stock up, is always heaving, the kids can feed the calves in the summer too. It tastes fantastic and looking at how they are brought up, they seem to have a good life( maybe why it tastes better ). They have footballs in the fields, and things to stimulate the cattle's brains and scratching posts for the cows too !

For me, I wont buy any meat from supermarkets now, it is worth the travelling to save money and get proper food.

Google farm shops in your area, you may be surpised what comes up. And closer than you think!

Sorry if I have upset any Veggies out there with this post!

Googlewhacker

I know of plenty independent butchers to be fair, they are not quite in the dire straits of other smaller businesses.

McKneff

We often have a Farmers Market where we live. I dont understand if they are cutting out the middleman ie selling direct to the public and cutting out the supermarkets,
why is the stuff twice as much as the supermarkets,
we also have 3 independant butchers and its even more expensive than shopping with them.

I try to shop at the butchers when possible but Im afraid I feel as if Im being ripped off at the farmers markets.

pulliptears

I used to use my local abattoir, until I was increasingly being given cooked turkey that stank the house out when opened. I stopped after the last batch sent me running for the sink to heave from the stench. I've since heard one or two folk complain about it, just because its not a supermarket doesn't mean its quality.

lucylucky

We have a new butchers opened up near us a few months ago. I was keen to try it and support new business but sadly the meat is not very good.

I usually get stuff from the farmer's market or another local butcher.

I tend to stop at Farm Shops if I am out and about. I have found the quality as variable as any supermarket. Some superb stuff, and some truly dreadful stuff.

Costco meat is consistently great. (If I am bulk buying)

hoyles10

We're fortunate that we've got 3 or 4 good butchers near us and a friend owns a farm and farm shop plus we've got Bury Market with a couple of good butchers that we use, I much prefer the meat from any of these than the supermarket and I believe you get what you pay for. If I buy a cheap piece of steak from Asda or Tesco then I know it's not going to be as good as paying the extra to get a decent piece from the butchers.

Sublime_2

I have 2 butchers in my village, and very good ones at that. They both sell good quality, locally sourced meat. A wide variety too. One sells a lot of hot food, snacks, while the other has a deli.

Foggster

We are very rurally based and have at least 2 butchers in the surrounding towns (well big city folk would think they are villages LOL).

I think we are all being ripped off in the supermarkets to be honest, dyed food, imported and farmer's profits cut to the bare minimum.

I would say all of us have had an experience of bad meat from both local independents and the big supermarkets so it wouldnt put me off buying it again from the same shop.

I like to buy British all the time because of the high standard of animal welfare in this country compared to any other country. There isnt another country in Europe whose slaughtering methods/animal welfare exceeds ours.

Becles

I can't recommend this butcher highly enough:
http://www.premiermeats.co.uk/

The meat we have had from there has been fantastic quality. If you are in the North East, you can collect from Team Valley or they visit local markets. If you live elsewhere, there is a delivery service.

We had ordered a rib eye of beef for Christmas, but they rang just before and apologised as they had supply problems. They upgraded us to a fillet of beef and wouldn't take any extra money from me, even though it was a more expensive cut of meat. It was a fabulous joint of meat. My Dad loves beef and he just about licked his plate clean

geri1965_2

I don't have a car and the nearest butchers to me are halal, so I have no choice but to get mine from Tesco.

lucylucky

geri1965 wrote: »

I don't have a car and the nearest butchers to me are halal, so I have no choice but to get mine from Tesco.

Or buy halal or go further afield.

No need to get yours from Tesco (should you wish to try something different)