It’s always great to see new independents opening up in Bristol, and last week saw the opening of an exciting new business in Clifton in the form of butcher Ruby & White. The former Threshers shop at 48 Whiteladies Road has now been taken over by neighbouring The Cowshed’s Adam Denton, offering local shoppers a butcher, wine shop and delicatessen, all in one place. I popped in there on Sunday to take a look…
Ruby & White are all about shopping local. ‘We celebrate what the West Country can offer’, says their bio on Twitter, ‘amazing meat, poultry and game direct from farmers – provenance is everything’. And it’s not just about the provenance of the meat – it’s about selling products that are as fresh as possible. Downstairs is where the magic happens – peer through to the back and you’ll see a chiller room of fresh meat, all of which is prepared for customers on the premises.
The ground floor of the shop is host to two meat counters, full of a variety of cuts of beef, lamb, chicken, duck, venison and more. They make their own burgers and sausages – I’ll have to go back and pick up a packet of the pork, ginger and spring onion variety – as well as pre-marinating meat for easy meals: I especially like the fact that they suggest which additional ingredients such as vegetables should be added for dishes such as their lamb tagine, and make these ingredients easily visible for customers in-store. They’ve also got a three for £10 offer on sausages, burgers and selected steaks and marinated meats to entice you in…
All of the marinades are created in the spice kitchen upstairs, where their spice chef will happily create all manner of spice mixes and marinades for customers. He wasn’t there when I visited, but the chiller cabinet on the top floor of the shop was full of mini pots of combinations such as Thai chilli and lemongrass, saffron and lemon and rosemary, lemon and garlic, all available for just £1 each.
The top floor also stars a whole host of wines to complement your meal, along with a counter of cured meats and cheeses, including local producers such as Bath Soft Cheese.
Even better, for those who work 9-5, at least, they’re open from 10-8 Monday to Saturday (and 10-4 on Sundays), meaning that you’ll still have time to head in after work to stock up.
At a time when there are so many boarded up buildings on Whiteladies Road, and when all talk is of the new Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores that are to be built on the Clifton street, it’s great to see another independent moving in. I have no doubt that this place is going to do very well indeed.
Find Ruby & White on the Bristol Bites Directory…
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IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO IDENTIFY THE MEAT YOU EAT WITH AN ANIMAL.
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS BEING USED BY RUBY AND WHITE TO EMPHASISE THE QUALITY.
BUT
YOU DO IT AT YOUR PERIL AS THE SUPERMARKETS FOUND OUT WHEN THEY TOOK THE ANIMALS AND PUT THEM OUTSIDE IN THE CAR PARK TO EMPHASISE THAT THEY WERE QUALITY AND WELL LOOKED AFTER. — MEAT SALES WENT DOWN !!!!!!!( MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT UNTIL THEN THE CHILDREN DID NOT CONNECT MEAT WITH CUDDLY ANIMALS !
PEOPLE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO EAT LARRY THE LAMB –BILLY THE BULL AND PORKY THE PIG
YOU MUST EMPHASISE THE QUALITY OF YOUR MEAT –BUT NOT BY "LOOKING THE ANIMALS IN THE EYE ".
I THINK PERHAPS A WEEKS ATTENDANCE IN AN ABATTOIR BY THE MAN WHO BRAVELY INVESTED £500,000 WOULD GIVE HIM A MORE DOWN TO EARTH APPROACH…
Hear Hear!!
Well said billy the Bull – everything I've bought so far in Ruby & White has been excellent – the beef is properly hung not like the revolting bright red stuff our supermarkets offer.
Oh fuck off captain capslock.
Amazed…..what next chipples potato's…….
I just want your phone number so I can order some steaks!!