Prime cuts: the best butchers in Manchester

Everything from fresh fruit and veg to wooden spoons, Bury Market has a dizzying range of stalls selling fresh produce, street food, clothing, kitchen utensils, household staples, artisan coffee and even furniture.

‘Historic’, ‘award-winning’ and ‘world-famous’ are some of the accolades you’ll see plastered on banners as you walk around and they’re not wrong. The market has been a traditional shopping destination for families for centuries and its popularity has defied the dominant supermarket trend since it was rebuilt in 1971 after a fire destroyed the original market buildings in 1969. It has also won awards for its tourist credentials and you’ll regularly see coaches bringing tourists for a day of exploring the rabbit warren of stalls.

You’ll find The Butcher’s Quarter on Tib Street, nestled in the city’s trendy Northern Quarter. They pride themselves on sourcing the finest artisan suppliers with which to stock their fridges and shelves.

The Cheshire Smokehouse is one of the region’s best places for quality food. It’s just not Christmas round our way without the hickory smoked cashews and some smoked salmon from this award-winning farm shop.

Fraser’s Butchers pride themselves on sourcing the best ingredients and meats from local farmers to fill their well-stocked fridges.

Looking for a modern butcher that offers premium local produce? Head to Little Pigs in Didsbury and you won’t be disappointed.

Lords of Middleton was established way back in 1893, and is one of a handful of shops in Greater Manchester that are members of the Guild of Q Butchers – the gold standard for butchers in the UK.

Back in the early 1900s, John Mettrick’s great granddad’s uncle left his job at a butchers in Manchester equipped with just a sausage recipe and a dream. 12o years later and Mettrick’s Butchers is still going strong (and its sausages are as popular as ever).

If you like eating out in Manchester, chances are you’ve enjoyed some meat from W H Frost Butchers. They supply carnivorous delights to many of the region’s top restaurants and you’ll often see menus boasting Frost’s sausages. Why wouldn’t you? – W H Frost is a mark of quality.