Nicholson Butchers, a traditional family butcher with a history dating back more than a century in Whitley Bay, celebrated a remarkable achievement at this year’s Smithfield Awards. The shop proudly took home two gold awards for their unique pies – slow cooked Beef Stroganoff and Spanish Chicken, along with two silver awards for their steaks and pork sausages.
The Smithfield Awards, organised by the prestigious Q Guild of Butchers, are renowned for recognising the pinnacle of craft butchery excellence. Now in their fourth decade, the awards recognise and reward the finest craft butchery products across various categories including sausages, bacon, burgers, steak, game products, and more.
Nicholson Butchers’ success at this event underscores their dedication to quality and innovation in the industry.
Nicholson’s pies
Crafted in-house at their bakery above the shop, Nicholson’s award-winning pies feature homemade pastry and meticulously selected ingredients, with a focus on locally sourced produce whenever possible. The dry-aged sirloins undergo a minimum 21-day aging process in Nicholson’s specialist dry aging chiller, sourced from hand-selected beef around Northumberland. Likewise, the pork sausages are a testament to tradition, blending high welfare pork with a carefully guarded family recipe passed down through four generations.
Kathryn Nicholson explained that the rigorous judging process included, a meticulous attention to taste, texture, appearance, and sustainability. Every product nominated went thorough stringent evaluation by a panel of judges, ensuring only the highest standards were met. She said:
“We’re thrilled to have received two Gold and two Silver awards from the Q Guild of Butchers. These accolades are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team in creating exceptional products that delight our customers.”
Nicholson Butchers’ commitment to sourcing locally from trusted farms ensures freshness and quality in every product. From hand-selected beef and lamb from nearby farms to responsibly sourced chickens from Cumbria, the shop prioritises sustainability and ethical practices.
Located in Parkview, Whitley Bay, Nicholson Butchers invites customers to experience their award-winning offerings both in-store and online. With free daily delivery to local areas, patrons can enjoy the finest meats crafted with care and expertise.
“I’m sure that when my great grandfather Charles opened his butcher’s shop in Whitley Bay during World War One, he would’ve hoped that the family name would carry on through the generations. I’m pleased to say that this has become a reality leading to national awards for our products. I hope he would’ve been very proud of the family and our staff for continuing the work he started all those years ago,” said Kathryn.
