A Bridlington butcher is celebrating 20 years in the business this August, having started his career as a delivery boy at the tender age of just 11-years-old.
Richard Binsley was originally born in Leeds, but moved to the New Pasture Lane estate in Bridlington with his family when he was just three years old.
Richard, who now owns Smiths Butchers on Chapel Street in Bridlington town centre, explained:
“I then progressed to more hours during the holidays. When I finished school I went straight into full time work.”
Richard says one of the biggest influences in his life has been his former boss at DJ Horsley’s, the well known character – Harold Aubrey de Lavenu. His other great influence has been his late Nanna.
Richard is a great advocate for buying local and sees independent butchers being relied on for all sorts of things. He says people will return to local shopping and realise the difference in service, quality and cost.
“Being a butcher isn’t just selling meat, you really are at the heart of the town both with shop and wholesale customers.
“You become the face people trust and the place people come to for advice. We’ve had a wide range of questions fired at us and some not just about the meat you eat.” said Richard who is married to Ellie and has two sons, Henry and Archie.
“I feel business is doing a full circle it was very basic pork chops, bacon, mince, sausages … then more exotic,untraditional cuts came in and now we have returned back to the traditional basics of liver, ham shanks, chops and of course our award- winning sausages.” Richard explained.
And his advice for anyone thinking about coming into the trade: “It’s very rewarding and can bring great opportunities. You become people’s advisors, carers and create some life long friends.”
“My funniest story would be after just passing my test, I was out in the van doing my very first delivery round. I was pulled over by the police – in typical butchers humour the lads had banded a fake number plate on saying ‘ Big Chopper 1’ – I was terrified to go back to tell the boss, but the lads found great enjoyment when I returned red-faced.” said Richard.
Richard supports Great Ormond Street Hospital (selling dog bones and holding raffles to fundraise for local youngster Henry Waines who had life saving surgery), and also Flamborough RNLI of which he is great advocate.
Customers old and new are always welcome to call into Smiths Butchers on Chapel Street in Bridlington or call 01262 672270 more information:
Visit Smiths Butchers Facebook and Instagram pages which are regularly updated.
