Wirral butchers scoop multiple category wins at national awards

National Craft Butchers holds annual competitions open to all butchers in the UK. This year, award categories were game product, 30 minute meal, traditional black pudding, hot eating pie, cold eating pie, traditional sausage, innovative sausage, traditional bacon, and innovative bacon.

And this year, one Wirral butcher scooped two awards.

Muffs The Butchers, on The Cross in Bromborough, were awarded Best Black Pudding and Best 30 Minute Meal.

The business, which opened in 1974, is run by John Muff who took over from his dad and grandad.  

Muffs The Butchers on The Cross, Bromborough, were awarded Black Pudding and Best 30 Minute Meal (Image: National Craft Butchers)

He told the Globe: “It feels amazing to have won the award. It was a lovely surprise.

“We knew we were in the running because we got high scores at the initial competition but we were really delighted to find out we had won two categories.

“A lot of hard work goes into it on a day to day basis but when we enter competitions everyone really invested because they’re all a part of it so we were amazed when we found out.”

John and his team scooped the category wins with two of their best-selling products. Their traditional black pudding and their tray bake trilogy which consists of Guinness wings, salt and pepper ribs, and truffle parmesan fries.

John said: “The black pudding is a really traditional product and we make ours in the traditional way.

“We’ve known for years how good it is. I’ve literally never tasted a better one which I know sounds rich coming from me but it is genuinely a really good product.

“With the traybake, part of what the judges liked about it was the concept. It’s a really good portion for one but ideal for two really. It’s a full meal it’s not just one product.

“The flavour combination and the way they marry together also the concept of having the three in the one dish which only takes 30 mins in the oven. It’s a nice sharing platter.

“We found there’s a growing trend toward easy food on the go because a lot of people are working nowadays.

“Gone are the days where there’d be a wife cooking at home while her husband goes out to work everyone works now and I think having the time to eat good quality home made food is important and that’s something we can provide.

“it’s all made in house with quality ingredients and whole food whereas if you go to a supermarket and down a frozen food isle you’re buying highly processed meals whereas ours are wholesome.”