Simply The Best
‘The best of Bowland, the best of Lancashire and the best of beyond’, is the philosophy at the Bowland Food Hall at Holmes Mill. Gail Bailey meets butcher Callum Gillies to find out more
As we start to think about longer days and warmer nights, thoughts drift to spending time in the garden, firing up the barbecue, cooking and eating outside. Whether you’re a barbecue expert or an enthusiast, the Butcher Boys from Bowland Food Hall have everything you need for the perfect get-together.
Callum Gillies leads a team of butchers, including Joe Diver with whom he has worked for six years, and who both share the same passion, ethos and artisan approach to their craft: “Quality produce, with the welfare of the animals at the core, is really important to us,” explains Callum. “We want our customers to know that we spend time sourcing as much as possible locally, from outdoor reared, happy herds.”
The suppliers at Bowland Food Hall include Porcus, which produce a fabulous range of sausages. “They are a small farm business, breeding rare pigs, outdoors to the highest welfare standards, as nature intended, and it really shows.”
Poultry comes from Johnson and Swarbrick, which produce the famous cornfed Goosnargh chicken and duck, that is used by the finest chefs in the country.
Sweet and tender Salt Marsh lamb is supplied to the Food Hall from a flock that roams free over 500 acres of Salt Marsh on the Lancashire coast. Callum is confident that this lamb is the best in the country.
Aberdeen Angus and Hereford beef is also sourced locally and dry aged for 28 days, to intensify the flavour and tenderness.
“We make our own rubs and marinades which are designed to enhance the natural flavour of the meat rather than disguise mediocre meat with brightly coloured glazes and overly spicy or sweet marinades,” Callum adds.
To make life even easier Holmes Mill has barbecue packs so customers can pick up a selection of mouth-watering foods for however many guests they have. Buddha bowls and fresh salads accompany the barbecue food and as Callum says: “With our fabulous meats, salads, sauces, relishes and tear and share breads, I really don’t think you’ll find a better selection anywhere in Lancashire.
“There’s a real buzz about the Bowland Food Hall,” Callum adds. “We couldn’t have a better canvas to showcase our take on modern butchery – it’s such a great environment to work in. We’re pouring our hearts and souls into our work – it’s a craft and we want to promote that craft so that people can appreciate the difference when they shop local.”
Bowland Food Hall
Holmes Mill, Greenacre Street, Clitheroe BB7 1EB
01200 407130
www.holmesmill.co.uk
Monday to Saturday: 9am-6pm
Sunday: 10am-4pm
