Where (How Far) Is Your Nearest Butcher?

[OldBather]

In a previous post of mine about Black Pudding, another AB'er said I should buy mine from a real butcher,and I had to point out that our nearest "real" butcher is 16 miles away.
Which leads me to ask, how far from you is your "real" butcher.I don't mean in a Supermarket (although some of those can be good) but a real family run, independent, butcher.
I fear that they are a vanishing breed,maybe doomed by supermarkets,mad cow disease and red meat consumption being discouraged.
Any thought?

[mazie]

Ours is less than half a mile away and does a pretty good potted hough. We also have a great baker, the steak and gravy pies from there are a bonus.

[seadogg]

We used to have 3 about 30 mins walk away plus a really good fishmonger. Now we tend to use the local Sainsburys and the good food shops are beauty parlours, betting shops and booze emporia. Parking restrictions helped put paid to the good shops.

[Smowball]

About a three minute walk.

[ducksie]

Mine is across the car park, a real family butcher, every day they cook some cuts of meat and along with joints of beef you can buy a chicken curry or steak burgers cooked already for your lunch/dinner, it's a fab little shop, does a great roaring trade at lunch time with the schools and workers around the area

[paddywak]

When I was a kid we had three "proper" butchers, a bakers and a wet fish shop that also sold what ever game was in season.Now we have a Tesco and an Asda and more take aways and charity shops then I can count.

[ducksie]

That's brilliant Murdo, mine sharpen my knives every Christmas (to carve the turkey) and if I'm making a stew or whatever, he throws in the few carrots a bit of celery or whatever, decent out

[Cloverjo]

We have one about 10 miles away, and one a few further miles along. The first one is good, but it's become a bit of a tourist destination rather than an old-fashioned butcher's.

There is another in a more local high street, but it's cheap rubbishy stuff.

[Old_Geezer]

The local town market has a butcher's van twice a week, but otherwise it's the supermarkets. Unsure where the nearest butcher shop is.

[Buenchico]

A 5 minute walk away:
http://www.urban75.org/blog/images/needham-market-photos-05.jpg
However, although I might occasionally treat myself to a pie from there, I simply can't afford their prices for day-to-day shopping. It's Asda for me!

[waterboatman]

A two minute walk.

http://camfamilybutchers.co.uk/

[Eleena]

Hi OB, 10 minutes away, but I can't remember the last time I used one!

[diddlydo]

Woofgang - sorry but the Waitrose meat counter does not employ "real" butchers (at least mine doesn't). When I asked them to bone out a shoulder of lamb for me they said they weren't allowed to because of health and safety! So I walked round the corner to a proper independent butcher who was more than happy to bone the lamb.

[Old_Geezer]

Supermarkets don't always employ proper fishmongers either. Was amazed when I asked the lady behind the fish counter at Asda if she would gut/clean the fish for me as she told me that she can't do that.

[woofgang]

didlydo, mine will bone or otherwise prepare joints and the fishmonger will fillet or skin the fish. You might need to wait if they are busy but they will definitely do it

[ummmm]

The butchers is about 10 min walk away. He'll also get you specific things that he doesn't normally have in like venison.

I've had to return fish that I've asked the fishmonger to fillet in the supermarket. He clearly didn't know what fillet meant...

[OldBather]

Just to say Thank You to everyone who posted on this thread.It seems that there are still quite a few independent butchers about (and they seem to be valued, and hopefully patronised).However,there are large areas of the country where there are no butchers,butchery deserts I suppose you could call them (as where I live).If you can find a good Supermarket butcher (Waitrose are excellent) then they may take the place of missing butchers.
Should I ask a question on fishmongers?Maybe not,I think they are more of an endangered species than butchers.

[Arksided]

About four houses down the road, don't know where he practices his trade though.

[emmie]

apart from the supermarket there isn't one. The two we had are long gone.

[Arksided]

There used to be one on the high st... about half mile away that has long gone... and local Tesco doesn't have one either... so unless there's one hiding. I need to travel into City Centre about Six miles away.