Jeanie Davidson / 28 March 2025 / Categories: Shops, Food & Drink

The Hampstead Butcher family tradition

It's so important we support the shops and shop keepers we love. I went to Browns Fishmongers on Charlbert St in St Johns Wood to buy something special for my friend who was visiting, she loves a rollmop herring, to discover they've gone. How? When? they've literally been on that corner for decades, an institution and puff, they are no more. It was the best place to buy Sashimi in the whole of London.

The hampstead butcher is another such institution. These guys have two other locations in West Hampstead and Muswell Hill. I go to the one on Roslyn Hill in Hampstead.

I prefer Europe to the UK when it comes to their daily eating, shopping, supporting local culture. I prefer a daily/weekly market to posh shops, something harder to find in London. Sure there are specialty shops and farmers markets dotted around Alexandra Palace and Blackheath on a Sunday, Ealing and Brockley on a Saturday, all of which I have visited and it's a day out rather than popping out to get something delicious for lunch.

Why I support the Hampstead Butcher. I come from a family of butchers. My grandpa owned a butchers shop and my elder sister to her absolute chagrin found herself working in a butchers shop on a Saturday, her first job, on the recommendation of someone he knew in Butcher shop circles.

Most of us eat meat, beef, pork, lamb, veal, poultry, game but after the horsemeat scandal a few years back now it became very clear big brands are perhaps not so diligent as to the smaller family run independents who care a lot more about their customers and their customer feedback.

At the Hampstead Butcher the customers are not numbers with a loyalty card, handing over data for a discount, we are real people with names and personal preferences and the expert who serves us, or prepares our Sunday roast, a piece of topside, or silverside actually knows the difference.

At the Hampstead butcher you don't get slabs of meat on polystyrene plastic covered trays you get beautiful cuts, proudly displayed with skilled professionals who know how to fillet, debone, trim, Spatchcock, literally whatever you need can be done for you without issue.

And don't think it's just your joint or bangers they've got covered. The deli display is so extensive from hors d'oeurves, olives, the best smoked salmon and caviar and ask them to make you a picnic and you won't be disappointed. And even if you don't eat meat, their selection of cheese is as good as Fortnum and I've never had a bad bottle of wine recommended. At the holidays, Easter and Christmas this place goes all out and if you ask nicely, bones for stock and drooling pouches will be added to your bag with a wink at no charge.

Thank you Matthew for all you and the team do.