An award-winning, sixth generation family butchers offering an incredible selection of local produce has joined the Marque.

We wish a warm welcome to Sway Butchers, specialists in New Forest pannage pork, venison, beef, lamb and poultry, who are renowned for their prize-winning sausages, pies and BBQ products.

Sway Butchers was established in 1976 and is run by master butcher David West, whose family have been butchers since 1830. Originally from North London where his grandfather, father and uncles all had butcher shops, David arrived in Sway in the summer of 1976.

The shop is in the picturesque New Forest village of Sway, just three miles north of Lymington, where over the past 40 years the business has gone from strength to strength. In December, the shop won The New Forest Marque Food & Drink Award at the New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards 2022, held at Brockenhurst College.

Specialists in local produce

Sway Butchers source meat from Hampshire and Dorset, including many New Forest small holdings. These small, non-intensive farms specialise in grass-fed native breeds and are run by families that care about animal welfare and the environment.

Sway Butchers work with many fellow New Forest Marque members including:

– Hollyhock Flock, Minstead. The Hollyhock Flock of Gotland sheep produce delicious hogget and mutton that graze on species-rich pastures.

– Paul Tanner, Great Oaks Farm, Boldre. A family-owned farm producing quality free range poultry including slow growing bronze turkeys which roam open fields.

– Noah’s Ark Farm, New Milton. A family-run farm where where the chickens are free to roam 35 acres. Also offering eggs, lamb and free range bronze turkeys and geese.

– Beaulieu. Pheasants and partridge from the Beaulieu Estate.

Prize-winning sausages

Creators of the Brockenhurst Banger and the Sway 2000, Sway Butchers know a thing or two about sausages. Using a closely guarded family recipe, handed down from David’s grandfather, Sway Butchers have become well known for their sausages, winning many awards over four decades. They make over 20 different varieties, from Pork & Cracked Black Pepper to Forest Venison.

From the kitchen

Alongside traditional cuts of meat, a range of home-made, ready to cook products are on offer, perfect for a busy midweek meal. Launched at the start of 2016, the shop’s own range of pies, ready meals, quiches, sausage rolls, deserts and cakes are homemade and then frozen. The From Our Kitchen range of meals do not contain additives or preservatives and have proved so popular the shop has had to take on more staff to fulfil demand. The secret of their success is not only quality, made-from-scratch fillings, but also that all the pastry, whether shortcrust or puff, is made by hand.

Sway Butchers offer a personal service – you can call or email the shop if you need advice on choosing a specific cut of meat for a recipe, or to order something for the weekend.

Pop into the store in Station Road or visit the Sway Butchers website to shop online.

Brilliance in Business Awards 2022