York is about to welcome the first new traditional butcher in the city walls since Scotts closed its Low Petergate shop in 2008.
Appleton’s Butchers, who already trade in Ripon and Wetherby, will open their York branch in Lendal in mid-October. And the plan is to sell the legendary York ham again.
The business can trace its origins back to 1867 when the first Ripon shop opened.
Appleton’s are best-known for their handmade pork pies, which have locals queuing round Ripon’s market square and are beloved by Prince Charles.
The butcher specialises in pork products like cured whole hams, sausage rolls, Scotch eggs, faggots and cooked meats such as roast ham.
Fancy some tongue?
The Lendal shop will also offer charcuterie, pork rillettes and pâtés, and for the brave, ox tongue, still pickled, boiled and hand pressed using methods handed down from the original Appleton’s family.
“Opening a specialist pork butchers in York has long been a dream of ours,” says Appleton’s owner Anthony Sterne, whose father was also a butcher.
“Mr Appleton’s original principle was selecting Yorkshire’s finest meats for the people of Ripon, and now we’re offering something unique to the people of York.
“Since Scott’s of York closed in 2008, a traditional butcher within the York walls has been sorely missed.”
Celebrating food heritage
Anthony is the former development chef at Pret-A-Manger and a real foodie. He said:
We have big food ambitions and we want to revive the art of making traditional York Ham, which is currently on Slow Food’s list of endangered traditional foods.
He said they were also looking for food lovers to work with us in the shop. If you would like to apply, please get in touch via the Appleton’s website.