Owning a butcher shop hidden away in the middle of a housing estate is a benefit according to Paul Boyle, owner of Boghall Butchers in Bathgate.

“We’ve been here 42 years and it is hard to get people to come to the middle of a housing scheme,” said Paul.

“My father started the business. He was butcher manager in a shop in Bathgate at that time. And then one third of the population lived in the estate and so we wanted to bring the shop to them away from the high-street in very much the heart of the community.”

The busy shop currently employs around 10 people including Paul’s daughter Mariesha who concentrates on the customers and their needs. To keep the family business going, Mariesha will take over the business when Paul retires.

In 2015 Boghall Butchers took the title of Scottish Butcher’s Shop of the Year at the Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards.

Speaking of the award, Paul said: “It’s good a shop in the middle of a housing estate can win it.

“It’s good to get people coming in to speak to you and I think that’s what’s keeping butchers alive on the high street.

“We buy heifer beef and that’s the best quality. We speak to local farmers here and it’s an art to produce beef to its best and farmers seem to have that knowledge just right.”

Paul emphasises the importance of liaising between farmers and the consumers. “It’s good for farmers to get to know over the years that customers are still looking for leaner beef but we all know the best is with a covering on it,” he said.

“There’s been a trend on slow-cooked joints over the last three years and it’s good for farmers to know what our customers are looking for.

“In particular, many restaurants will be looking to provide slow-cooked joints.

“Butchers are listening to everybody and they can tell the farmers.”

Product innovation

With his customers in mind, Paul ensures that his shop offers a wide choice of products to suit the community.

“We do a lot of pies, over 20 varieties. Over the last four years we’ve moved onto ready meals.

“We have customers with young families and these ready meals are a wholesome alternative for them.

“This year we are hoping to increase ready meals and increase our kitchen-ready products. So the customer can buy a cut of beef that maybe only needs another 45 minutes of cooking,” said Paul.

Boghall Butchers first won recognition for their pies in 2005 when they won the title of World Champion in the Scotch Pie Club World Championship. The team have since gone on to win numerous other awards for their pies and other products.

Industry involvement

As well as running his shop in Bathgate, Paul has also served as the president of the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Association (SFMTA) for the past two years.

Within this role, Paul helps to represent 300 members throughout Scotland and acts as the voice of those members in various regional meetings.

Speaking of visiting various butcher’s shops around the country, Paul said: “Certainly the butcher’s shops are all very much bringing their shops up to date. Gone are the days when you had a small counter.

“This is what we found, the most successful are those with bigger displays. People like to have a look around themselves at what you have on offer.”

Speaking about the challenges that butchers face when competing with supermarkets, Paul said: “It’s very difficult. When it comes to reduced prices you are best to let the supermarkets do their thing.

“I focus on quality, personal service and giving out menu advice.”

Butchers and Brexit

Speaking about any possible changes the industry may face with Brexit, Paul said: “I do think it’s very difficult to get quality shop butchers. In abattoirs and boning plants a lot of the staff are from all over Europe.

“If the staff decided to go home there would be a problem with staff shortage. It would maybe mean an increase in salaries and then it would affect the price of beef.

Representing the industry

Paul also enjoys attending the Royal Highland Show and for the past two years he has competed on Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) stand.

He also believes that the Highland Show offers an opportunity to help educate children on where their food is coming from.

He said: “The Highland Show is a wealth of knowledge. If you go and you don’t learn something, something is wrong.”