Business
Haverfordwest butcher celebrating being shortlisted as having Wales’s best banger
PRENDERGAST BUTCHERS in Haverfordwest is celebrating being shortlisted in Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales’s ‘Put Your Best Sausage Forward 2022’ competition, with their Prendergast Gold sausages being selected as amongst the very best bangers in Wales.
The award-winning family butchers is run by Chris and Rachel Wolsey, along with their two sons Tom and Mark. All their products come directly either from their own farm or from a few very carefully selected local suppliers who meet their high-quality ethos.
Speaking of their delight at being nominated, Chris Wolsey said: “We are honestly over the moon to have our sausages shortlisted as amongst the best sausages in Wales this year.
“Our family have farmed in Pembrokeshire for almost 50 years, and we’ve always prided ourselves on producing the best quality produce. What’s key to our business is sourcing our meat with care from local suppliers, and very often our own farm.
“It’s a team effort here with my wife and two sons, along with our other hard-working staff. We know our customers and can provide them with whatever they want really – a particular size or type of cut, or cooking advice. You just don’t get that at a supermarket.
“We’re really proud of our Prendergast Gold sausages and hope they go on to take the title at the final event. We’d also urge our customers to come to shop and find out for themselves what makes them so special!”
Also shortlisted in the Put Your Best Sausage Forward 2022 competition is Red Valley Farm in Carmarthen with their wild garlic sausages, and Ynysybwl-based Puff Pigs, with their chilli and garlic sausages.
The winner of the Put Your Best Sausage Forward 2022 competition will be announced at a special event during the Thursday of the Royal Welsh Show at the Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales stand. The judging panel will include Welsh food personality Chris ‘Flamebaster’ Roberts.
The winner will also automatically qualify for the UK and Ireland Champion of Champions Sausage competition, which will take place at the Butcher Shop of the Year 2022 Awards next year.
Philippa Gill, Brand Marketing Executive at Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales, said: “Picking a shortlist of just three sausages is always a difficult but hugely enjoyable task, and this year was no exception thanks to our fantastic Porc Blasus family of producers.
“After the pandemic, it’s also great to be able to return to a physical judging event where all three finalists will be scored by our panel of experts, and the winner able to receive their trophy in person on the day. We had lots of great entries, from producers right across Wales – so a massive thank you to everyone who took part.”
You can buy sausages and many other innovative pork products directly from Prendergast Butchers at their shop in Haverfordwest, or via their website, prendergastbutchers.co.uk.
For more information on pork produced in Wales, and where you can buy it, please visit porcblasus.cymru.
Business
Millin Brook Luxury Dog Boarding wins three top industry awards
MILLIN BROOK Luxury Dog Boarding, a family-run business in Wiston, has received three major industry awards this year, cementing its place as a leader in pet care services.
The first accolade came in September when the business was named Business Service of the Year at the PetQuip Awards. Co-owner Sian Smith said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded Business Service of the Year. We put our heart and soul into providing the highest possible level of service to our wonderful clients, and it’s great to have this recognised by industry experts.”
THE UK’S BEST
On November 7, Millin Brook was crowned Best Kennels in the UK at the Pet Industry Federation (PIF) Awards. These awards, which celebrate excellence across the pet care sector, saw Millin Brook score highly in customer satisfaction.
Nigel Baker, CEO of the Pet Industry Federation, said:
“Millin Brook particularly impressed the judges. They scored very highly on their customer satisfaction scores.”
Co-owner Dave Smith added: “This is the biggest accolade we can receive in the pet industry, and we are so very proud.”
A LONDON CELEBRATION
The year was rounded off on November 21, when Millin Brook won the Kennel and Home Boarding category at the Dog Friendly Awards, held at the Kennel Club in Mayfair, London.
Mrs Smith reflected on the occasion, saying: “It is such a beautiful venue and full of history. Following the award ceremony, we were treated to a fabulous spread of afternoon tea. One of the highlights was meeting Ted, the dog from Gone Fishing. We finished the day with a tour around the Kennel Club museum and enjoyed a few celebration drinks.”
These three awards highlight Millin Brook’s commitment to providing outstanding pet care and confirm its status as a standout name in the UK pet industry.
Business
Haverfordwest butcher wins best banger in Wales
PRENDERGAST BUTCHERS in Haverfordwest has taken the top prize for the best sausage in Wales, at the prestigious ‘Put Your Best Sausage Forward 2024’ competition.
Organised by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales, the award celebrates the artisan Welsh pork industry, which is defined by smaller scale and specialised farms and producers.
The award-winning family butchers is run by Chris and Rachel Wolsey, along with their two sons Tom and Mark.
The family have been farming in Pembrokeshire for almost 50 years, and took over the shop some seven years ago. In that time, the business has been transformed and consistently wins awards for the quality of its offering, including being named the best butcher in Wales at the UK-wide Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards.
Announced at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair Show, not only was their Prendergast Gold sausage named the best banger in Wales, but their Merry Cherry entry also reigned supreme in the newly introduced Best Christmas Sausage category.
Speaking of his pride at winning both awards, Chris Wolsey said, “Having made the shortlist for the two previous years and just missing out on the top prize, it’s fantastic to have finally taken the crown. To win the best Christmas sausage as well is just the icing on top.
“Everyone in the shop is over the moon. Both entries are a combination of the family doing a lot of trialling and tasting, and getting the sausages to the point where we feel they would be appealing to our customers. My preference is for a sausage with very high pork content, and which just has the bare minimum of seasoning, hand mixed and with a natural casing. When you have an amazing product, like locally reared pork in Wales, then you want that to be the star of the show and the main flavour.
“In my opinion, pork from Wales is superior. The flavour, husbandry and smaller scale farms sets us apart from the larger, more industrial method of farming. At Prendergast Butchers, we know exactly where all our meat comes from, it’s fully traceable and we work closely with our customers and farmers to get the product exactly as they want it.”
Philippa Gill, Brand Engagement Lead at Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales, commented, “We are thrilled that Prendergast Butchers took not just one, but both awards at this year’s competition.
“The standards continue to be high, and highlight some of the quality, artisan products that are available locally to people in Wales.
“Our small-scale producers offer unique, hand-reared products, often available directly or from local shops like Prendergast Butchers. With fewer food miles, it’s often a more sustainable choice, in addition to helping keep money in the local economy. We would strongly encourage people to seek out their local pork producer and give them a try.”
For more information on pork produced in Wales, and where you can buy it, visit porcblasus.cymru.
Business
Roch Castle wins awards at the Historic Hotels of Europe ceremony in Prague
ROCH CASTLE near St Davids is proud to announce its recent wins at the Historic Hotels of
Europe Awards, held in the heart of Prague.
Adelle and Johanna, representing Roch Castle, accepted two distinguished accolades for the entire team: Historic Eco Hotel of the Year and the Silver Award for Historic Castle Hotel of the Year.
The Historic Eco Hotel of the Year award recognises Roch Castle’s dedication to sustainable
hospitality, a core value shared by staff and visitors.
This award celebrates the castle’s eco-friendly practices and commitment to preserving the environment while offering a luxury
experience steeped in history.
The Silver Award for Historic Castle Hotel of the Year also honours Roch Castle’s unique ability to provide guests with an unforgettable stay in an authentic and beautifully restored 12th-century castle.
The management gave a heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who supported Roch Castle and voted in the awards.
Special recognition is due to our exceptional team, whose hard work and dedication
made these achievements possible.
For more details on Roch Castle or to experience this award-winning destination for yourself,
visit our website at www.rochcastle.com, email [email protected] or call 01437 725 566.
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