Where Britain’s Best Christmas Meats Begin
At Hollands, we’ve always believed that, like country clothing, the best meals start with a commitment to quality- and Christmas is no exception. Behind every great Christmas roast is months of quiet work, and in the countryside, Christmas starts long before the turkeys in the oven.
For many British farmers, it begins in spring, with careful feeding, rearing, and planning for the festive season, before skilled butchers prepare the cuts that will take pride of place at the Christmas table. It's the time of year we’re reminded that the best produce often starts closest to home.
So, as we head into the season of feasts and family gatherings, we’re shining a light on the people who make it possible and celebrating the local producers who keep our traditions alive; the best farm shops and butchers for Christmas meats, whose names are known not by adverts, but by reputation.
Hollands Pick: Britain’s Best Farm Shops with Butchers for Christmas
If you’re short on time (or hungry already), here’s our pick of the top independent Farm Shops with Butchers that are worth the detour this Christmas, each one known for exceptional local produce, friendly service, and festive cuts worth travelling for.
- Newton Farm Foods (Bath)
With its award-winning butchers at its heart, Newton Farm Foods is a family-run gem based just outside of Bath. Selling a variety of meats raised on the farm, their Christmas range includes beautifully prepared free-range turkeys, local beef, and hand-tied joints, as well as ready-to-go hampers filled with festive cheeses, chutneys, and sweet treats. For anyone near Bath, Newton is a top spot for locally sourced Christmas meats and gifts with a field-to-fork ethos.
- The Farmers Butcher (Hampshire)
Originally a butcher's turned retail farm shop, The Farmers Butcher specialises in high-quality, locally sourced meats, including pork from the Commoners Larder, chicken from Noah’s Ark, and lamb from Parsonage Farm. Their Christmas meat boxes and hampers make festive shopping easy, offering top Hampshire and Wiltshire produce straight from farm to table.
- Becketts Farm Shop (Birmingham)
Combining hard work with over 80 years of farming knowledge, Becketts Farm Shop offers a full-service butchery with a bakery, deli, and local produce market, all under one roof! Christmas selections feature premium cuts, festive hampers, and freshly prepared trimmings, and as a long-standing Midlands favourite, it’s a one-stop destination for quality Christmas meats and seasonal food.
- Lowe’s Farm Shop (Cheshire)
A true family-run farm shop based in Cheshire, Lowe’s Farm Shop is loved for its high-quality homegrown produce and award-winning resident butcher packed with festive favourites. Their Christmas range, from hand-prepared joints to bespoke hampers filled with farm shop favourites, makes it a go-to for anyone wanting quality Cheshire produce and proper personal service.
- Mainsgill Farmshop (Yorkshire)
A farm shop born from the success of its butchers, Mainsgill Farm Shop champions more than 400 local suppliers, as well as home-reared meat straight from the farm. With zero miles and full traceability, their festive hampers, handmade sausages, and popular Christmas Meat Boxes make them a top choice for stocking up on the best of North Yorkshire’s produce.
- Ardross Farm Shop (Fife)
Set against the scenic backdrop of the Fife coast, Ardross Farm Shop is a family-run farm shop known for its grass-fed beef, lamb, and vegetables —all prepared on-site. Boasting a small-scale, artisan feel and focus on home-grown produce, it’s the perfect place to source Scottish Christmas meats straight from the farm to the fork.
- Bodnant Welsh Food (Conwy Valley)
Nestled in the Conwy Valley, Bodnant Welsh Food is home to its award-winning butchers and is known for an array of artisan cheeses and its renowned Welsh black beef. Available for both collection or delivery, their beautifully curated Christmas hampers showcase the very best of Welsh produce, and if you’re looking to make a day of it, they even offer Christmas workshops- so you can get stuck in before you tuck in!
Butchers That Shine at Christmas (Traditional & Online)
Hand-tied joints, dry-aged beef, and handmade sausages carefully wrapped to make those essential pigs in blankets, it’s not just the Turkey that takes centre stage at Christmas- and it’s even better when you know exactly where it’s come from!
Here are a few of our favourite butchers that shine at Christmas time, from traditional counters to trusted online butchers bringing the best of British to your doorstep.
Traditional and Online
- Lishman’s (Yorkshire): An award-winning family butchers known for dry-aged beef, handmade sausages, and Yorkshire’s finest festive joints, Lishman’s tick all the boxes for traditional butchery with modern flair.
- Edwards of Conwy (Wales): A Welsh favourite celebrated for local lamb, beef, and gammon, Edwards of Conwy offers both in-store service and easy online ordering for Christmas.
- Beacons Farm Shop at the Welsh Venison Centre: Specialists in venison and wild game from the Brecon Beacons, the Beacons Farm Shop is perfect for trying something a little different this Christmas.
Online Only
- Thomas Joseph Butchery: Offering restaurant-quality British meats delivered nationwide, with premium Christmas cuts prepared by expert butchers, Thomas Joseph brings the Best of British meat to your doorstep. And as for the mysterious Green Egg? Why not find out for yourself…
- Briggsy’s Butcher: Small-scale, but big on quality, Briggsy’s is a modern online butcher, known for traditional sausages, prime steaks, and reliable nationwide delivery. An excellent all-round option if you can’t make it to the local.
Christmas Meat Hampers & Pre-Orders Worth Knowing About
We know all too well that the run-up to Christmas can get a bit chaotic, and before you know it, that well-intentioned trip to the local butcher's for the Christmas turkey plus all the trimmings is looking less and less likely!
Campbells Heatherfield Luxury Christmas Meat Hamper
If that’s the case, not to worry. A hamper or festive meat box can save a lot of time and stress if you can’t make it to the shop. While most butchers (including the ones in this guide) offer their own versions of festive hampers, boxes and pre-orders, here are a few extra online options with festive features to look out for:
And if turkey isn’t available? Why not try an alternative? We promise beef and roasties can be just as festive (and as tasty), or why not try Venison for a sustainable Christmas?
How to Find Your Local Farm Shop or Butcher
Not everyone lives around the corner from a well-known farm shop, but the good news is there’s likely one closer than you think! Across Britain, small independent butchers and farm shops are thriving — your best butcher might be down a muddy track, but it will be worth the detour, we promise!
Websites like localproducer.co.uk and BigBarn.co.uk make it easy to search by postcode and discover genuine local farm shops and butchers near you, and of course, social media is great for local suggestions, and word of mouth still rules in rural communities.
It’s worth noting that many now offer online ordering or click-and-collect services- so even if you’re short on time, you can still enjoy fresh, locally reared meat for Christmas.
From Field to Christmas Feast
So to wrap up, the best Christmas meals start long before they reach the oven, in the British fields, farms, and butcher’s blocks, from family-run farm shops to independent butchers offering quality that no supermarket can match.
Whatever your Christmas dinner traditions may be, every purchase tells a story, and these are the people who make Christmas taste like it should.
So this year, if you can, shop local. Support the butchers and farmers who put so much into every cut, and enjoy a Christmas feast that truly goes from field to fork.
About The Author
Matt Holland is passionate about sharing tips on how to enjoy the British countryside, whether it’s through family-friendly activities or connecting with nature. Living and working in the beautiful Cheshire countryside, Matthew is a proud advocate for our British farmers and the importance of eating local, seasonal food. He combines his love for rural life with practical advice, helping others make the most of the seasons and embrace the beauty of country living.
