2014 Smithfield Awards Clewlows Butchers pic

A butcher from Nantwich has scooped two Golds at the prestigious national Smithfield Awards.

H Clewlow Butchers, of Pepper Street, achieved two gold awards for its Fig & Honey Cured Bacon, and Dry Cured Bacon.

More than 470 meat products from 54 Q butchers nationwide – half of the national membership – were entered for the eight categories in this year’s awards.

It is seen as the most prestigious national competition for the industry and are judged by independent panels of food and meat industry experts.

Awards were announced and presented at the Butchers Hall in Smithfield, London, by Matthew Fort.

Fort was the food and drink editor at the Guardian for over a decade, author of award-winning books on food, and judge on the popular TV series, The Great British Menu.

He said: “I’ve admired butchers all my life.

“There’s something about the skill, watching butchers break up a carcass with their calm assurance – it’s like watching a magician at work.

“It’s like the finest theatre – the knife coming down, even sharpening the knife, the noise, and the crunch when the cleaver comes down with such precision.

“To someone like me, this is absolute magic.

“I’ve spent many hours watching butchers going about their business and every time there’s something to be learnt.

“I’ve never had a serious conversation with a butcher where I haven’t learned something.

“I think the future can be extremely positive for Q Guild butchers; the emphasis on quality, precision and wisdom – you can’t put too high a price on that.”

Q Guild national chairman Brindon Addy added: “Smithfield Awards are among the meat industry’s most esteemed and cherished accolades.

“They recognise and reward both product quality and innovation, at the same time reflecting the skills continually demonstrated by our members – Great British butchers one and all.”

(Pic: Charles Clewlow, left, H Clewlow Butchers in Nantwich, receives his Smithfield gold awards from presenter Matthew Fort, joined by the shop’s manger Adrian Spender)

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