Southsea butcher is top of the chops at awards

Buckwells has won two Gold Awards in a competition for craft butchery products - The Smithfield Awards.

The event is held by the Q Guild of Butchers each year, recognising and rewarding excellent products.

Owner and butcher John Buckwell won a prize for his saddle of lamb with wild mushroom and tarragon and a second for his chicken and chorizo pie.

The team also won a silver award for their Victorious Sausage.

The butchers, based in Osborne Road, was up against artisan shops from across Britain.

The awards were judged blind by an independent panel of food and meat industry experts at City of Glasgow College. The winners were announced by BBC broadcaster and food expert Nigel Barden.

e Smithfield awards again it is a recognition of all the hard work my staff and myself put into making a success of our business.’

Nigel said: ‘I’m honoured to be involved with the awards and look forward to celebrating those at the zenith of the butchery profession.’