Rhug Estate announced as finalist in Game Butcher Awards – they need your vote to win!

Rhug Estate has been shortlisted for the Game Butcher of the Year Award in the Eat Game Awards 2022 but it needs everyone to vote online to win.

The Eat Game Awards, now in their fourth year, are a celebration of wild British produce. Eight categories make up the awards, which recognise the achievements of champions of game, including chefs, producers and retailers. The awards aim to raise the profile of game meat and reward the passion, innovation and success of those working with wild game.

The judges of the Game Butcher of the Year Award are looking for the best local butcher selling a range of game meat. For this category, online nominations were collated and the top 10 have gone forward for online public voting. The three nominees with the most votes will go through to a final judging process by a mystery shopper visit, scored against a set criteria.

Steve James, the Manager of Rhug Estate’s Butcher’s Counter in the Farmshop said, “I was delighted when I found out that we had been nominated and shortlisted for this Award. The most rewarding part of the job behind the Butcher’s Counter in Rhug Farm Shop is recommending something to a customer and they come back to tell you how nice it was. It would be a huge honour to win this Award. If customers could take a minute to go online and vote for us it would be appreciated.”

Voting closes on Monday, 21 February 2022, and the Award winners will be announced on 25 March 2022. Please vote for Rhug Estate online here: https://eatgame.co.uk/eat-game-awards/voting/#best_butcher

Chances are if you have visited the Butcher’s Counter in Rhug Estate Farm Shop you have been served by Steve, as he is our expert, award winning, butcher who is always on hand to answer questions about the Rhug organic meat on display.

Steve James has worked at Rhug for almost six years. Previous to working in Rhug Estate’s Farm Shop he worked in Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, Vernon’s Butchers and prior to that he worked with his dad on the Butcher’s counter in Kwik Save in Llay, Wrexham.

Steve was brought up around the butchery business as his dad had five shops and it has always been Steve’s great passion to get great animals and produce the best from them. In his spare time Steve enjoys shooting and fishing. His eldest son is in the RAF and his youngest son enjoys fishing with him.

Lord Newborough, Owner of Rhug Estate said, “Well done to Steve for his hard work which has resulted in our Butcher’s Counter being shortlisted for this Award. We pride ourselves on our customer service in the Farm Shop and the success of Rhug is built on always trying to go that extra mile for our customers. As a dedicated team we are always striving to do better and that is how it should be.”

Rhug Estate is renowned for producing the highest quality game including: grouse, pheasant, partridge, mallard, wild rabbit and venison.

This is the first time Rhug Estate has been shortlisted for the Best Game Butcher Award but in previous years Steve James has won the ‘Best Butcher in Wales’ Award. He also won the ‘Best Pie in Wales’ Award for his homemade steak and ale pies two years running.