In the idyllic village of Chew Magna, a renowned Bristol butcher Dave Kelly and Bath Rugby’s Tom Dunn have united to revive a storied butchers' shop dating back over 100 years.
Kelly, the founder of Clifton’s Ruby & White and author of Great Meat, has reopened the historic premises as Kelly’s, with support from Tom Dunn. The shop, which resumed operations in March, is committed to upholding traditional butchery practices while catering to a modern market. Already, it has been supplying esteemed food venues in the region, such as The Pig, The Queens, Chew Kitchen, The Stag Inn in Hinton Charterhouse, Fox & Badger in Wellow, and Homewood Hotel & Spa in Freshford.
Expressing his passion for preserving the heritage of butchery, Dave stated, “The art, history, and essence of butchery can be too easily lost, and I wanted to ensure that it lives on in the South West by launching Kelly’s. The shop in Chew Magna has been around for over 100 years and has a fantastic reputation with the locals so when I heard it was up for sale, I couldn’t resist. It’s also close to a number of quality farms in the area and it struck me as the perfect base to put some soul back into butchery.”
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Tom Dunn, reflecting on his longtime acquaintance with Dave, expressed his enthusiasm for supporting the venture, emphasizing Kelly’s dedication to the craft. “I’ve known Dave for many years and he is extremely passionate about butchery and a master in his art. When he first mentioned it, I immediately wanted to help him achieve his vision and really look forward to seeing the business grow in the months and years ahead.”
Kelly’s prides itself on an approach to wholesaling meat that emphasizes whole animal butchery, offering cuts typically unavailable in larger establishments. Moreover, the shop’s commitment to local sourcing aims to re-establish connections between customers and regional producers, reaffirming its dedication to quality and tradition.