Award for Ashampstead butchers

Vicars Game has won a regional prize in the Countryside Alliance Butcher of the Year award

AN Ashampstead butchers that makes, amongst other things, more than two tonnes of sausages every day, has won a regional prize in the Countryside Alliance Butcher of the Year Award.

Vicars Game, which has been in existence in its current guise since 2003, won the Southern region in the awards, dubbed the Rural Oscars, for their high quality produce and excellent service.

Head judge Sara Rutherford said: “Vicars is an incredible outfit, a butcher, farm shop and game dealer with a true commitment to quality local produce and traditional butchery skills. They are everything a butcher shop should be and much, much more.”

The shop is run by brothers Alan and Owen Hayward, who started their careers 50 years ago at Griffins on the bridge in Newbury.

Co-owner Alan Hayward was delighted by the win: “It is incredible really, I'm amazed that so many people have voted for us.”

Asked about his recipe for success, he said: “We still do today what we did 50 years ago. “We only deal with quality meat and our customers appreciate that. We have had a 45 per cent increase during the recession.”

Their produce is on sale in prestigious shops like Fortnum and Mason and Selfridges and in Michelin starred restaurants Pied a Terre and The Ledbury.