A butchers in Westfield - which stayed open through two World Wars - is now open again and hopes all the new custom will stay
By Susie Watkins 23rd Apr 2020
It has stared down two World Wars, and a handful of recessions, but when the coronavirus pandemic began, the family-run butchers in Westfield did have to reassess.
Not because anyone was ill, but just because the business, which was started in 1913, was so busy as residents went into lockdown, they needed a bit of a break.
Now owner Brian Mitchard, whose grandfather started the original butchers, is hoping that the goodwill and local new custom will stay long after coronavirus has moved on.
Brian said: " We never shut, never ever shut for a week until now. " I can't imagine my grandfather or my father shutting down ever, they were a resilient bunch in them days." " We have been going all these years and I think that's the first time in those hundred years that we have ever shut for a week." He was also full of admiration of Thomsons Hardware down the hill in Radstock, telling Nub News: " I don't know Mr Thomson but I really admire that man, to keep doing what he is doing. He keeps going and whoever the family is (the store is now run by his daughter) they are very resilient people and they have kept going through all these supermarkets and others. "They are still there working, taking a pride in their jobs.If the Lord is willing I will keep going."
All the shop's meat stock is local; they get their meat from Chilcompton, Paul Mattick, lambs from Martin Webber at Oakhill (previously at Stratton on the Fosse) and pigs from Paul Reakes, near Shepton Mallet.
The shop is now open Tuesdays to Saturdays. The butcher said: " I am getting a lot of new customers but it is like Christmas we get a lot then and we don't see them any other day.
"It makes us feel that they are doing something good, we are all trying to help. They all talk about it (doing something good) and then it disappears, I hope this isn't the case about this."
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