A FAMILY-run Hampshire butcher’s shop has made the top cut in three categories of a national award scheme.

Smiths Butchers in Eastleigh was a finalist in The Great British Butcher Awards 2019 making them “stars” of the retail butchery industry.

The awards are designed to recognise and celebrate innovation and quality in retail butchers.

Smiths, located on Market Street, won a gold award for its Ashdale 42 Day Dry Age Sirloin in the Best British Beef Steak category at the awards ceremony in Harrowgate on May 19

It also came amongst the top three nationally in the Young Sausage Maker, and Dry Cured Bacon categories for its Smoked Pork & Maple Sausage Double Smoked Treacle Streaky bacon respectively.

After more than three days of judging, organisers announced the results of awards, with scores of retail butchers across Great Britain celebrating.

Out of 470 product entries received across eleven categories, 144 products were awarded a Great British Butcher Gold accolade, 177 were awarded Silver awards and 55 received Bronze awards.

The team of expert judges included chefs, meat fans, industry experts and food technologists.

Manager of Smiths, Frank Crockford, said: “We feel very pleased, we can’t believe it. It’s an honour and now Eastleigh has been put on the meat map.

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Director, Pip Smith, said: “We would like to think were are good but to have it reaffirmed makes all the difference, it can only be good for us.”

Smiths has now been invited to participate in The Wold Steak Challenge.