Tetbury butchers scoops top award (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tetbury butchers scoops regional Countryside Alliance award

3:40pm Sunday 15th February 2009 in News By Alex Love

CELEBRATIONS are taking place at Tetbury's Jesse Smith's Butchers after it scooped a prestigious regional honour.

The family-run business won the Daily Telegraph Traditional Business award in the 2008 Countryside Alliance Awards for the Wessex region.

It beat 2,300 other nominees to go through to compete in a national final at the House of Lords in London next month.

John Newman, manager of the Tetbury store, said he was delighted with the victory.

"It's absolutely wonderful," he said. "I'd like to thank all our staff and the customers who nominated us. If we win the national award it'll be marvellous."

Judges praised the good old-fashioned attitude to customer service and traditional butchery skills, as well as the passion for meat sourced within a four-mile radius.

Praise was also given to the butchers contribution to charity, raising £9,000 over for a variety of good causes in the local area in the past few years.

- The butchers already has this year's Easter raffle running, with a host of prizes available. Tickets are £1 and proceeds go towards the restoration of Tetbury's St Mary's Church.