For those of you who would still wish to visit, and shop with us directly at Flecknoe, there is still an opportunity to do so. However, it is advisable to phone or email ahead to confirm stocks of certain items and when you would like to visit.

Background:
The Chopping Block Butchers was established on the farm at Flecknoe in 1997 which drew upon Phil Jones knowledge and experience as a livestock farmer and buyer for Freedom Foods, to source the best quality meat for our shop. With the addition of the Outside Catering Business, we are now our own biggest customer, and harshest critic. This helps us to constantly maintain and develop the quality of our produce, and has helped us establish the reputation we have today.

The sources of our meat:
We source all our meats from the best suppliers we can find, offering us consistently the finest quality produce. Our expertise ensures that we only choose animals and cuts with excellent marbling, tenderness and flavour. Animal welfare is also really important to us, and to our customers for so many reasons. Not only to ensure contented animals, being reared in stress free environments, but also, because this produces the tenderest and most flavoursome meat.

The ageing of our meat:
Most modern Butchers simply do not allow their meat to mature, so whilst it looks lovely and pink, it is tough and flavourless when cooked. At The Chopping Block, we use traditional methods to mature our Beef for up to 28 days and Lamb and Pork for up to 10 days, allowing time for the rich flavours to develop and for the meat to tenderise.

Our Beef:
We only source the meat from Heifers or Steers from Double Crossed Beef Cattle Breeds, that have been reared on grassland Farms with Farm Assurance Affiliation, and our aim is give 100% traceability for all our beef.

The choice in selecting specifically beef breeds of cattle ensures that only the best quality beef is used, as a lot of time and effort is invested in to maturing it. That’s why, as Outside Caterers, serving at nearly 100 Weddings a year, we can say confidently, better than any other butcher, that our beef, really is fantastic. Our Chefs are put to the test by some pretty demanding people to produce the very best for their big day, and if we gave them poor quality, we would certainly know about it.

Our Lamb:
All our lamb is sourced for that little higher fat content than you are likely to find in the Supermarket Lamb. You may be asking why? But, this helps to add a richness of flavour that helps to tenderise the meat which then dissolves away from the meat during in cooking, It is a bit like a naturally built in stock cube.

The lambs are all sourced through one supplier from farms in the South of England and arrive with their own documentation, of which Farm they were reared on, and confirmation that they have been reared on Grassland Farms. The Lambs are born inside, and then moved outdoors where they are reared and grazed on the fresh Grass. Here they are able to grow and develop in a healthy and natural environment, running about, skipping and playing, they are then weaned and fattened before then being taken for slaughter.

You just need to visit our online store and see the pictures to appreciate how different our meat is from the average. The meat has a deep red colour, laced with the whiter marbling of the fat. Its taste though, is testament to all the hard work and dedication from those involved in the breeding and farming of the animals.

Our Pork:
All the Pigs we source are bred from Duroc X Landrace sows with a Large White boar. The Duroc enhances tenderness and taste, the large White boar gives a greater meat to bone ratio, the Landrace gives length to the carcass. Our pigs are born outside all the year round and fattened in extensive straw yards, in accordance with Freedom Food and RSPCA guidelines. These pigs benefit from a happy, welfare friendly environment and fed a diet free from antibiotic growth promoters, hormones, and meat and bone meal.

This is how all Pigs should be reared, and we are delighted to be able to bring this fantastic product to all our customers. Again through our outside catering we serve our Free Range Pig Roasts to over 8,000 people each year. Have a look at the certificate to the left which comes with each Pig delivered to us.

Our Poultry:
We supply Grain Fed and Free Range Ducks and Chickens, all from one producer in the North of England. They are able to supply us with a beautifully dressed and presented range of poultry products including small, medium and large chickens to suit how many hungry mouths you have to feed.

The Free Range Chickens have the best of both worlds, with indoor warmth, comfort and protection from predators, and the freedom to run about and graze, dig and scratch around outside.

The Ducks have purpose built pools to paddle about in, as well as separate clean drinking water, and are fed on feed containing locally produced wheat, which has no additives or bonemeal. Being outdoors they can also benefit from the fresh country air, free from disease and pollution. With animal husbandry like that, the taste of the birds can’t help but be in a different league to those from intensively reared Farms.

The Experience:
So often we see so many labels on products, but don’t really know what they mean. So we at The Chopping Block thought it would be easier to tell it as it is. So we hope that you have enjoyed learning a bit more about the meat we have on offer.

With so many food scares in recent times, we feel now, more than ever, that it is important for you to know and understand what you are buying and eating. Therefore, If you have any more questions about any of our meats please call Phil on (01788) 890228.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE CHOPPING BLOCK STORE FOR OUR LATEST PRICES AND ORDER ONLINE