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?

[tonyav]

Around a quarter of a mile away from our house.

[jno]

there was one a couple of hundred yards away, but he closed down, not enough business. (We're ringed with supermarkets within 2 miles here.)

[DTCwordfan]

5 miles but then I am 5 miles from anywhere and, some would say, this applies to my mind as well.

[woofgang]

There is one quite close to me (15 minute walk) but its rubbish. I have no idea where the next nearest is. The quality of the meat from my local Waitrose butcher’s counter is excellent. The people who run the counter are “real” butchers. They can advise on what to buy, prepare joints and generally do what a good butcher should.

[goodgoalie]

Village butcher, less than a quarter of a mile away

[bednobs]

about 1/2 a mile

[sunny-dave]

8 minutes walk - and very good he is too - excellent pies and good faggots/haggis/puddings.

[shaneystar2]

Two independent butchers shops in my local High St.
Five minute walk to the first one ,bit longer to the top of the street to the other.
I like a bit of local shopping and we are lucky with our High St.We also have two independent bakers.I never buy supermarket bread.

[jourdain2]

4 miles - and well worth it.

[tonyav]

Our local butchers shop.

http://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images1/360/1111/03/original-watercolour-ink-george_360_ae51dc58cd5c99ce06faf6b0d0382e21.jpg

[sunny-dave]

I wish we had a real bakers here, shaney - it's about the one thing my little town is missing.

[tonyav]

We have one, Dave. Excellent it is to.

[shaneystar2]

I worked in an independent bakery for quite a number of years dave and got spoilt for fresh bread. We used to get a free loaf every day or a dozen crusty rolls .Lovely .

[EDDIE51]

None in my town nearest is in a village 5 miles away. We only have a large Tesco and a small Morrisons.

[paddywak]

About ¾ of a mile away, a proper old style village butcher been in the same family since for ever and still serves the top quality stuff as they did when I was a kid.

[RobNorth]

There are still some regular butchers around where I live, but a lot fewer than 20 years ago. Small shops of all sorts are rapidly disappearing, because we like the convenience and pricing of supermarkets.....ironically, the few butcher's that seem to do really well do so on the back of .......sausages!!

[marval]

We have two about two miles away, they are opposite each other.

[chiaroscuro]

Always ready to promote Woodhall Spa
http://www.rjhirstfamilybutchers.co.uk

[gness]

About a fifteen minute walk, OB.....not that I do that......I text Dave with my order....he's nearer and collects it for me.....it's a good butcher...

As Dave says.....would be great to have a baker....the bakery is now an Italian restaurant.....fantastic though it is....a bakery would be bliss.....
We do have a new wine shop though....so with that...the butcher, the little fruit and veg shop and the Faith and Fabric craft shop.....not forgetting the great pubs.....I'm happy......x

[cassa333]

I think the nearest one to me is about 3 miles away. We only use a 'real' butcher at Christmas for a turkey. There was a closer one at a mile in the main shopping area (well the place all the charity shops are) but it closed.

Otherwise the supermarket is less than a mile away.