Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2009 | Page 108
life
FOOD & DRINK
Paul Murphy wins
Butcher of the year
It was Paul Murphy who won
Butcher of the Year at the Island
Life Food and Drink Awards, but
speaking about it afterwards
he heaped praise on his “rival”
for the award, Andy Gustar of
Hamilton Fine Foods.
“I don’t see us as being in
competition – it feels more like
a partnership with Andy and his
daughter Kerry – they are always
there for me and my wife Niki,
helping us in sourcing Island
meats.” He adds: “We had a
bumper Christmas here, and it
was partly down to Andy really.”
Since last May, when he moved
his mobile butchery business into
Briddlesford Lodge Farm Shop,
Paul hasn’t looked back. He’s
been so successful that he’s just
taken on an employee, and what
with concentrating on keeping
his customers happy and
sourcing what they want from
Island farms, he didn’t think
much about the award.
“It was a real surprise to me
that so many of my customers
took a form and voted for me,”
says the ever affable Paul. “In
fact, when I got the award
didn’t know what to do – well,
I’ve never had that sort of thing
before, so it’s quite new to me.”
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Paul believes he and the other
good butchers on the Island are
doing well despite the credit
crunch because customers are
going out to eat less often. “I
think people are buying a bit
better quality meat to cook
at home. They might choose
cheaper cuts but use better
recipes.”
To say Paul is enthusiastic
about the meat he sells is an
understatement. “I get lovely
beef from New Barn Farm,
lamb from Les Morris, and I get
cracking chickens, through Andy,
from High View Farm.”
Given Paul’s dedication to his
customers, it is hardly surprising
that so many voted for him. He
is always ready to give advice
on cuts and cooking, and his
reputation as the man who has
58 varieties of sausage is hard to
beat. But, as he says, he’s not in
competition with other butchers
– “We’re all feeding from the
same bowl, so we help each
other.”
Paul Murphy Butcher,
Briddlesford Lodge Farm Shop,
Wootton. Tel 01983 884650
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