Two Nantwich butchers bag top Q Guild Smithfield awards

Two Nantwich butchers have scooped gold medals at the Butchers Q Guild Smithfield Awards – known as the industry ‘Oscars’.

H Clewlow Butchers, on Pepper Street, won gold for their Pork Sausage, and Pork & Leek Gluten Free Sausage.

And Walter Smith Fine Foods at Bridgemere Garden Centre, Nantwich, won three gold awards with its Lamb & Mint Pie, Dry Aged Hereford T-Bone Steaks, and Harissa Lamb Parcel.

H Clewlow owner Charles Clewlow said: “Our pork sausages are made using a recipe which came from my grandfather and grandmother, who founded the shop in 1929.

“We use locally sourced pork from Nantwich-based Reaseheath Agricultural College, which runs its own high welfare pig unit and has supplied us for many years, and our own family recipe seasoning.

“Pork and Leek Sausages are a new product developed for people with gluten intolerances in mind. It also happens to be a good tasting sausage enjoyed by all.”

In 2015, H Clewlow was crowned UK Speciality Sausage champion in the UK final of the Q Guild’s BBQ Competition with its Chicken Lemon and Ginger Sausage.

Walter Smith Fine Foods butchery manager James Wightman said: “Smithfield gold awards are among the best and most prestigious in the business and we were over the moon to claim a hat-trick of them.

“It’s both gratifying and satisfying when this effort and commitment to quality is recognised by industry experts.”

The 2017 Smithfield Awards attracted a record entry of almost 600 individual products from 61 butcher businesses from Scottish Highlands down to the south coast.

This year’s Smithfield Awards supreme champion was HG Walter Butchers, based at Barons Court in the London Borough of Hammersmith.

Celebrity judge Tom Parker Bowles said: “A town or city without a proper butcher is town without a heart.”

Q Guild national chairman, Alnwick butcher Mark Turnbull, said: “The record response this year was absolutely amazing and reinforced the Guild’s decision to change the Smithfield Awards format and make the awards early in the year.”

(Pics credit Pho2u)