New butcher at Apley Farm Shop

Apley handmade sausages

Apley butcher – Spring lamb & pork now in season & available

Craig Whitehouse butcher

We have just appointed a new Butchery team headed by Craig Whitehouse, assisted by Simon Pipkin & Max Phipps.

Craig started training to be a butcher aged 16, working in a supermarket, after which he went to work for an independent butcher in Birmingham. Simon Pipkin was brought up on a small holding & has always shared Craig’s interest in meat & butchery skills. Simon especially enjoys producing charcuterie items such as pancetta, salami & chorizo (which all our children adore!). After 26 years in the Armed Forces, Simon retrained as a butcher in 2009. Craig & Simon share a passion for locally sourced food, enjoy working with meat & love talking & helping customers to choose what’s best for them.

Yesterday, Craig’s first task back at Apley (as he worked for our last butcher), was to prepare joints of English Spring lamb & Gloucestershire Old Spot pork from Cherrington near Newport.   Gavin’s so pleased to have Craig, Simon & Max on board for the next stage of development at Apley, especially with recent scandals in the sourcing of supermarket meat from large processors & abroad, people are very concerned to know where the meat comes from. So the focus of the new Butchery team is to continue to sell the best quality meat sourced from Apley Estate & local farmers as well as offering fantastic service to our loyal customers.

Until 31 May 2015, as a special launch offer, customers are being treated to 1lb of Apley sausages (friends drive miles from north Shropshire to get these !), all handmade on site, when you spend over £25 on the butcher counter.  Every week, look out for what’s in season & special cuts, with free recipe cards to help you along. Apley Walled Gardens production level are increasing sharply as temperatures rise, supplying tasty fresh & local vegetables to Apley Farm Shop, to compliment your meat choices. Whilst it’s in season, snap up some fresh asparagus from local Quatt farmer RT Lee. They supply us every year in April & May.  Although it’s a vegetable with a short season, it’s worth waiting all year for ! There are countless different recipes – so take advantage of Apley’s special offer of 2 bunches for £6 (valid only whilst stock lasts).