New Organic Butchers in Beaulieu

[SarahF]

The two butchers who used to work at Warborne Organic Farm shop have set their own business in Beaulieu, near Hatchet Pond. They have taken over the site that used to be the Hazel Copse Farm shop, PYO and bakery, on the B3054 between Hatchet pond and the village high street.

The shop is calle the Beaulieu Organic Farm Shop and sells a wide range of organic meat, plus seasonal fruit and vegetables and dairy produce. They hope a bakery will follow.

See the New Forest Post, Thurs 22nd April edition for more details.

Has anyone already been to the shop? Please tell us more about it...

[christine thomas]

I call in there most days,if only to buy bread and milk, real milk where the cream is there for the strawberries. The meat is exceptional, beef, pork or chicken and their sausages are amazing, no preservatives or additives, try the old english variety. I love this shop and the enthusiam and passion of the guys that run it deserve our support.

[Stephen Tarling]

July update on Beaulieu Organic Farm Shop

The stock improves just a little each time we go - as they source more good quality lines.
The best of the season that we've recently tried included: the Beaulieu Strawberries which are just coming to their peak; we had a wonderful rolled haunch of local new season lamb - good for two people and didn't dry out as it roasted fairly quickly with a touch of garlic, anchovy, rosemary and olive oil. The new new potatoes were excellent - out of the ground a few days earlier and the skins will rub off (and they beat Jersey Royals in a taste-off). Broad beans, tomatoes and salad leaves were also tip-top.
Les has been hunting and gathering and has come in with a couple of new organic cheeses: we tried the excellent creamy Brie and there is also a peppered Camembert-style and a cheddar-style cheese new to the range. And some new pates have just appeared.
The asparagus has all gone. It may not be the season but the Rod and Ben's soups are worth the price - try the mushroom & tarragon or the pea & mint for summer (try the pea and mint cold is Les's tip). The Long Critchel bread and cakes are always wonderful - including a light-weight lardy cake!
John and Les tell us that in July there will be an increasing stock of local produce coming through - and at better prices - as the main New Forest area fruit and veg crops come to their most abundant. The rhubarb, broad beans, beetroot and new potatoes are coming to their best and John and Les have picked out sources of good peas, cucumbers, bunches of young carrots (with tops), blueberries and possibly raspberries, all of which should be available soon - along with the other lines you'd expect. There's some good organic pork tenderloin and still plenty of the superb new-season lamb. In the hot weather the Beaulieu strawberries and a lot of barbecue lines shift quickly.

Opening times as posted on the front door (at 25 Jun 2010) are 9 to 5:30 Monday to Saturday.

There's also a facebook page for the Beaulieu Organic Farm Shop - see
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113381548695745
or go to facebook and search for Beaulieu Farm Shop

[Stephen Tarling]

We've been quite a few times and it is excellent - well worth a visit for top quality New Forest food - outstanding meat and good fruit, veg, bread, diary etc. We know the two butchers - especially John (the central casting butcher) - from Warborne, and we're delighted to see they are doing well and expanding their range slowly but surely. Ethically raised and well butchered superb local lamb, matured beef, Childhay pork, real old-fashioned meaty chicken, poultry, game, venison...
Also on our personal favourites list from BOFS: Long Crichel bread (not so much with the New Forest), great local fruit and veg - at mid June you're just missing the end of the local asparagus season, but the Beaulieu strawberries are just coming to their tastiest. Great local organic cheeses and soups.
We're not sure of their opening times, but I think they open Monday to Saturday: phone [phone] (and there was talk of them opening on Sunday as well during the grokle season). They are also spot on in their recommendations and advice.
Thoroughly recommended.