Kington butcher to go part-time after 50 years on the high street

A butcher who has been on Kington High Street for 50 years, has sold his shop and is going part-time.

Paul Lewis says he has not had a full week off since 1979 and works six days a week.

But later this month, he plans to ease up and reduce his working week to just a couple of days.

Paul opened his butchers shop in High Street in Kington in June 1982, taking over from the Creswell family who had run a butchers from the same shop for nearly 50 years previous.

But he started his career in the industry aged 14 as a butchery apprentice for Baxters Butchers and that gave him the appetite to run his own shop.

“I will be easing back a bit from the middle of May. We have a new manager, Mark Skinmore who has lots of experience in the butchering trade for about 40 years on and off and he has been in the military. He will take on the ordering, stock control and run the shop.

“So I will come in a couple of days a week whenever they need help. It will definitely be less than the six days a week I have done for the last 43 years.”

The butchers shop offers a full range from cooked to fresh meats to pies and cheeses.

Mr Lewis said that the High Street has changed a great deal from when he started.

He said: "We used to have three butchers shops here on the High Street.

"I'm the only one left now. But I've managed to keep going and I'm still here 40 years later so must be doing something right.

“We used to buy in lots of carcasses initially because we had a slaughterhouse locally and we dealt with a lot of local farmers.

With more time on his hands than he has ever had, Paul has some plans.

Paul said: “I am looking forward to easing back now. I can mess about with my classic cars, I am busy renovating one and I have some other DIY jobs to catch up on, which I have never had the time for.

“I can go and watch Hereford United play on a Saturday now and go and watch my son who is a goal keeper for Hay on Wye.

“I am 68 now and Christmas here at the butchers is manic and it takes a lot of work with the orders etc.I will miss my chat and jokes that I tell over and over again to the customers. I will miss the customers and the banter.

“I've had the odd three or four days off here and there but never a full week.

"You've never seen anyone go on holiday to Euro Disney and back as quick as I did with my kids."

Mr Lewis uses lots of local suppliers including Weddel Swift in Bridgend for lamb and beef, chickens, Bromsgrove Bacon, Simply Provisions in Dilwyn for cooked meats and cheese and Russell’s Pies.

He said he was very fortunate to have had such fantastic local suppliers and regular customers including the Fforest Inn in Llanfihangel Nant Melan, and The Olde Tavern Inn.

"I would like to thank all the people that have made it possible and helped me keep the business running for as long as it has," he said.

He also thanked his daughter Sarah, who has helped him in the shop for the last 20 years.

Many things in the shop will stay the same but the new manager has brought in some products including spit roast chicken, beef and belly pork, Two Farmers Crisps, and goats cheese and a three bay refrigerated counter with pies, cranberry, apple and orange juices and accompaniments such as mayonnaise.

Paul added: “I sold the shop and the equipment in January and now the new owner has brought in Mark and there will be another assistant and I will work part time.”