Flock and Herd butcher on Bellenden Rd

[Jeremy]

We've always had good service and very good meat.

I'd be willing to bet that the bacon isn't pumped with water. It's actually pretty mean and irresponsible to slur a local business with this sort of guesswork.

If they don't have the capacity to take more orders then that's that. Get in earlier next year.

As for butcher vs supermarket meat... I'm not snobbish, I frequently buy supermarket meat and I have no problem with it at all, but I don't kid myself that it's the same quality product.

[dan b]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> We've always had good service and very good meat.

>

> I'd be willing to bet that the bacon isn't pumped

> with water. It's actually pretty mean and

> irresponsible to slur a local business with this

> sort of guesswork.

Seconded. Always had good service in there and have been very happy with the quality of meat - and the bacon is very good. The prices are also quite reasonable given the high quality. I may have missed something, but I do often wonder why people post threads about their "terrible experience" with a local business instead of having a word with them there and then. Doesn't take much to ask the butcher why there is a sheen (NB as Strafer Jack says, it's usually nitrites or fat) on the bacon you bought from him.

[Peckhamrye]

I have bought some great steaks from Charlie and have just collected my Christmas goose which looks fabulous. Charlie has a lot of connections in Peckham and I am sure he would rather be told personally about any issues people have rather than have them posted here. We need to support all local businesses and if we feel there is something wrong we need to feed back to them in person.

[jimmyraj]

I've found them to be a great butcher. Good selection, good advice and cheaper than other similar oulets. Great addition to the area

[Akwng]

You have damaged someones livelyhood and business ion one fail swoop why not take it

with the shop instead of posting on a forum

mearly Wrote:

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> I usually post only positive comments of local

> shops and trades but I feel compelled to share a

> terrible experience of the new butcher's on

> Bellenden Road.

>

> On my first visit, I paid an extra-ordinarily high

> price for two chicken fillets and four rashers of

> bacon. Surprisingly, the bacon had that

> off-putting metallic sheen you expect from the

> supermarket.

>

> Anyway, knowing that good meat isn't cheap I

> returned to give them another chance. I asked for

> a ham and was rather rudely told; we haven't got

> any, some are coming later but they are for

> orders. Ok, please could I order a ham then.

> Reply: No. You'll just have to keep coming in and

> trying. Now, from the school of customer service,

> particularly important for very expensive goods,

> maybe take my number and call if you have any left

> after fulfilling the orders?

>

> Like any new establishment I wish Flock & Herd

> luck but strongly advise they address their

> approach, here's one about to be regular local

> customer lost...

[Jacqui5254]

This sort of post makes my heart sink. Imagine going into work on Monday morning and, due to missing a social cue, being a bit tired after 8 hours work on the shop floor, being a bit deaf or WHATEVER, and finding that you, and the brand new business you were working for, had been picked at and pulled apart on the basis of someone's recent visit where they were left with their expectations unfulfilled and their experience of that one visit was "terrible". Oh yeah, and, on top of that, hundreds of potential customers who read the forum will be making a judgement. Sigh.

[Pugwash]

Had some bacon and black pudding from them last week, bacon did not shrink, not fatty or watery - pudding - tasty

[Huggers]

just collected my Christmas order, it looks wonderful and didn't cost the earth. Flock and Herd have been very popular this first Christmas of theirs and extremely busy but this morning were as cheery as always. I was on the verge of pointing out this thread to them, but thought why spoil a lovely jolly atmosphere.

[Jeremy]

I don't really have a problem with someone posting an honest experience online, and if people feel the customer service need improving, then I can't argue with that. But I don't think it's useful when people who have never shopped there start chipping in, or add uninformed speculation.

[DiD]

I've had mixed service -- generally quite good, and good quality meat. I went in there before Christmas and asked for venison loin -- they didn't have any, so I also asked if I could order it, and they said, no, their fridge was full. it was the end of the day, and I could see they were annoyed and started to say something like "you can't just swan in here and demand service" but stopped after the "you can't just sw..." And I said, well, what about if I pick it up the day it arrives? And they grudgingly said OK to that, but said, "its very expensive you know" as if I hadn't realised. I ended up getting some at Borough Market. So I do think that in spite of their busy-ness, they need to learn a bit of politeness. I understand if they don't have the capacity -- but a simple really sorry, we just can't accommodate, perhaps something else, would do wonders....

I also bought a free range chicken there recently, and it was certainly more expensive than William Rose (where I have ALWAYS had cheery service), and I didn't like it as much. So I won't be buying chicken there. But their bacon is good; beef excellent, and I had the most amazing and affordable, "lamb cushion" and it is rather convenient as we live quite near. So mixed reviews, room for improvement.

[jimmyay]

i've also had poor service and quality from this butcher.

[dorisminor]

They sell lovely Hartland Melton Mowbray pies and yes, the meat isn't cheap but as with everything in life, you get what you pay for. I couldn't afford to buy all my meat there but they are great. Happy and Prosperous New Year Charlie !

[jrpfinch]

I find their meat excellent and good value.

They could improve at order-taking and answering the phone though. However, this may just be a function of how popular they are.

They're not quite as polished as F C Soper (best food supplier in SE London?)

[DulwichFox]

jrpfinch Wrote:

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> I find their meat excellent and good value.

>

> They could improve at order-taking and answering

> the phone though. However, this may just be a

> function of how popular they are.

>

> They're not quite as polished as F C Soper (best

> food supplier in SE London?)

I thought F C Soper was a fishmonger not a butcher. ???

Might be wrong.

Fox.

[lane lover]

FC Soper is a fishmonger, however I think jrpfinch was trying to say they could learn a thing or two from these guys in terms of customer service.

[Nick.Bird]

The service and the meat has always been fanstastic - pork and lamb shoulder from their was amazing. Good luck to a new business!!

[camberlou]

I've been to Flock and Herd a few times since it opened and really like it. A couple of recent experiences: I bought four chicken breast to make a stew - they were ?2.50 each and huge. Had plenty of leftovers. I asked about game mix before Christmas and was told they'd get game in in the new year - I went yesterday and they had had some diced venison, but had sold out. They suggested alternatives (loin for roasting or diced kid) and also offered to put some aside when they get the new order in next week. Knowledgable, friendly service. A great addition to Bellenden Rd.

[Treeviews]

I called F&H before Christmas trying to order Christmas meat: everywhere had sold out. But when asked F&H kindly recommended a Greenwich butcher who was still taking orders. Pretty nice and polite of them I thought.

[Jason]

I rarely post on the forum but had to here, as my experience of Flock and Heard was the complete opposite.

Great friendly service, good advice, prices higher than the supermarket but to be expected. The steaks I bought were amazing. I have been back several times since and have never been disappointed.

I wish more places wew as good as this.

[camberlou]

I love the Flock and Herd Butchers Sausage. It's entered in the Love Your Local Sausage competition.

You can vote for it here http://www.sustainweb.org/jelliedeel/vote/

(Other sausages are availble)