Family butchers are voted top of the chops at awards

Honeywells of Woodplumpton near Preston proved to be a cut above the rest at the 2015 Butchers Q Guild Smithfield Awards in London.

The firm picked up golds for three of its bangers, a family chicken and ham pie and an individual Beef Wellington in its first-ever foray into the national competition.

“I’ve got to admit we didn’t expect that,” said John Gornall who runs the family firm with brother Anthony. “It’s incredible when you think we’re only well-established in the Preston and Garstang area. We’ve just opened an outlet in Cheshire, so we’re still an unkown quantity there.

“So to win five gold medals in national awards is a terrific honour and a great tribute to our products and our staff.”

Honeywells Meats, based in Eaves Lane but also trading out of two of the north’s top garden centres - Barton Grange in Brock and Bents near Warrington - only joined the exclusive Q Guild last year yet struck gold with a trio of sizzling sausages.

The low calorie “Lean and Tasty Pork” banger was created to be incorporated into a slimming diet for one of the family. The firm’s “Traditional Sicilian” was made from a family recipe of a Sicilian friend of the Gornalls.

And the popular “Cumberland and Black Pudding” variety was designed to bring together two of the great traditional foods of the North West.

The Honeywells’ “Family Chicken and Ham Pie” also won gold, as did the “Individual Beef Wellington” which was developed by staff using smaller cuts of beef fillet, homemade pate, whole grain mustard and Parma ham.

“This was our first time putting our products forward for assessment because we only joined the Q Guild last year,” explained John.

“We thought it would be nice to enter and get involved. So to win five golds was very nice and totally unexpected.Obviously we would like to build on this success and we will certainly be entering more competitions. It is great for the staff because they are very proud of what they create.”

Honeywells was founded in 1972 by the boys’ parents Francis and Doris Gornall.