Meat

For larger meat orders or if you require a specific cut of lamb or beef, please  help us to help you by placing your order a few days in advance.

Quality meat at a competitive price

It’s a common misconception that meat sold through a local farm shop or butchery will be more expensive than larger urban retailers. We are competitive on price mainly because there is no “middleman” between the farmer and the consumer. Additionally, you will be buying non-intensively reared meat, which has been processed using traditional methods to give superior cooking and eating qualities. Why not pay us a visit to judge for yourself?

Quality British Beef

We sell quality fresh beef products. We offer traditional cuts and joints, and can prepare orders to your specification. All meat products are prepared by our butcher at Ashley Shop. The meat comes from animals reared on our own farm in the Welland Valley, Leicestershire. The animals are reared on open grass pastures and are slaughtered at a local abattoir in accordance with our high animal welfare standards.

We now have locally sourced Dexter and Aberdeen Angus cattle which are grazed here on our farm in the Welland Valley until they reach maturity.  The meat is hung for 21 days before final preparation in our shop.  A proper hanging period tenderises the meat and gives the cooked beef a superb texture and eating quality. In addition the meat has good marbling characteristic which helps in the cooking process.

What is marbling?

Marbling is the term used to describe the fine veins of white fat that run throughout the meat. This fat dissolves and “cooks out” in the oven, and this enhances the succulence and flavour of the cooked meat.

Our customers tell us that Ashley beef really does “melt in the mouth”

Special orders for beef roasts and joints

We are happy to prepare orders for your special dining occasion, but please contact us well in advance with your order.

• Ribs of beef
• Topside prepared roasts
• Silverside prepared roats

Quality British Lamb

We sell fresh lamb, which is prepared to a high standard by our Master Butcher. The meat is produced from our flock of sheep in the Welland Valley, Leicestershire. The animals are reared on grass pasture and we aim to maintain the highest standards in flock management and welfare.

Fresh lamb meat for the home freezer

Our lamb freezer packs are best sellers; we supply half and whole lamb packs, jointed and vacuum-packed ready for your home freezer. Currently, all orders must be collected in person from the shop.  Please contact us for further information and orders.

Special Orders

If you need a particular cut of lamb for a special dining occasion, we must ask that you order from us well in advance of your required date. We also offer a final preparation service, for example, a crown roast of lamb.

Types of lamb

Spring lamb

Spring lamb comes from animals slaughtered at around 5 months of age and is traditionally available around the Easter period. Spring lamb meat should be a pale pink colour with a certain amount of marbled fat, which helps the meat remain moist during cooking. These characteristics give a fast cooking time.

Standard lamb

At Ashley Farm, the majority of our lamb products come from what we term a “standard” lamb carcase that is between 5 and 10 months of age. Lambs of this age have grazed on the rich pasture of the Welland Valley, which gives the meat a more pronounced “lamb” flavour and a darker colour. The standard cuts of lamb are less expensive than the more exclusive Spring Lamb cuts.