Hoptons Butchers

This is the butchers my mum-​in-​law has always used. I have been living in the US for seven years now, and recently went to my in-​laws’ for Christmas. I was sent to Hoptons for meat.
The quality and selection was so high I couldn’t believe my eyes. You see, in America, there are no butchers. They’ve been barred by the government. Only huge conglomerates are allowed to sell meat. I was used to grey beef, people going around saying how great a «hot dog» was, and paying upwards of $ 25 for a small piece of grass-​fed sirloin (Yankees feed cattle corn and a cocktail of hormones/​chemicals so they get very fat quickly).
These folks are proper tradesmen, who clearly care deeply about the quality of their meat and service. I’ve never tasted better bacon, steak, or sausages. I kept going back. And, unlike in America, I didn’t need to take out a loan to buy some quality food– this seemed to be the norm!
I noticed that, when queuing (in the rain) for quite a while to pick up our Christmas orders, everyone was smiling and very happy. No one complained, all were only excited to be getting the best meat in Cheshire. Such a treat.
Its amazing to think that people here in the States constantly crack jokes about how terrible the food is in the UK, when a little butcher in Hoole produces food that would make any NYC Michelin-​starred chef weep with jealousy.
I am heading back the Chester soon, and you can bet my tea will include plenty of cuts from Hopton’s.

First started shopping here at the start of the recession when we decided to spend our housekeeping money with local independent businesses instead of the national supermarkets. What a find this butchers is. Always helpful and prepared to give advice on what to choose, with a great range of top quality produce. Don’t waste your time shopping in the supermarket meat department, you won’t get horse in Hoptons!