The local Greater Manchester butchers teaching top restaurants how it’s done

Littlewoods Butchers, Stockport has been named in The Observer’s list of favourite local food shops

It’s not that long ago that going food shopping would involve a trip to your favourite butcher, baker, fishmonger, or greengrocer – and you’d probably be spoilt for choice for shops.

Nowadays, very few independent food retailers remain and most people buy their fresh produce from supermarkets.

So if you’re a meat lover and you prefer to buy your steak or chops from a local butcher, you may be interested to know that a Heaton Chapel butcher has been included in a list favourite local shops in the UK chosen by chefs and food writers and published in The Observer yesterday.

Littlewoods Butchers, Stockport

Littlewoods Butchers in Heaton Chapel has been in owner Marcus Wilson’s family since 1964. He worked there as a teenager before taking it over 20 years ago.

“I always say that Dickens would recognise a lot of what we do,” says Marcus. “We’ve stuck with what the shop’s done since it was built in 1898, which is using small local farms, native-breed beef, independent abattoirs and whole-carcass butchery.”

Higher Ground

Littlewoods was chosen by Joe Otway, chef and co-owner of Higher Ground, one of celebrity chef Rick Stein’s favourite restaurants, one of the best restaurants in Manchester according to the Michelin Guide, and one of only 20 new restaurants in the UK and Ireland to be awarded the prestigious Bib Gourmand.

Joe became a Littlewoods regular five years ago.

As well as selling some of the finest cuts in Greater Manchester to his appreciative customers, including less obvious meats such as hogget and wild boar, Marcus is on a mission to teach his craft to local chefs.

“Marcus has taught me a lot,” says Joe. “He takes time out of his day to go to restaurants and teach chefs the fundamentals of butchery. He’s always willing to go the extra mile. He’s a true Manchester food hero.”

Littlewood’s is at 5 School Ln, Heaton Chapel, Stockport SK4 5DE