A BUTCHER has launched a range of speciality sausages inspired by the Six Nations rugby tournament.
Southwick Square Meats has teamed up with neighbouring Southwick Greengrocer to offer deals on ingredients for meals such as toad in the hole and sausage casseroles, as part of their Six Nations Sausage Challenge.
Kevin Prosser, who has worked at the butcher shop in Southwick Square for 15 years, originally suggested the idea to owners John Burtenshaw and Michael Forrest as a bit of fun and distraction during the pandemic – and he says customers have responded well.
Kevin said: “I’m a big Welsh rugby fan and I asked the owners about doing a sausage challenge for the Six Nations.
“I spoke to a couple for suppliers about getting some mixtures for different sausages to reflect each nation – we have a pork and haggis sausage for Scotland, for example, and a sun-dried tomato and basil sausage for Italy.
“I spoke to the Southwick Greengrocer next door and so each time there’s a game, they will put some fruit and veg together in a pack to go together with our sausages for one of our meal ideas.
"We’ve got leaflets and recipe ideas up in our window.
“We wanted to do something fun, what with everything that’s going on at the moment.
"So far we’ve had a great response – people are asking if we’re going to carry on with the speciality sausages into the summer.”
The Six Nations sausages include pork and Stilton and pork and sage sausages for England, a Welsh “Fiery Dragon” sausage made with pork, leek and chilli, and Irish sausages made with pork or beef paired with Guinness, while the French option is a Toulouse sausage.
All the sausages are made by hand in the shop, and are priced at six for £3.50, depending on their size. Kevin said so far, the Scottish haggis sausages have been the most popular.
He said: “A lot of people say they don’t like haggis, but once they’ve tried it they come back saying it’s the best one they’ve tasted.
“We’ve also had customers asking for other mixtures – we’ve done a beef and horseradish one and a pork and Marmite one, which were successful.
"I personally can’t stand Marmite but in a sausage it adds a great flavour. The same goes for Stilton. You’ve got to give it a go.”
Kevin dons his Welsh shirt each time his team play, while Nick Herriott next door at the Southwick Greengrocer wears an English or Irish shirt – and customers have started coming out in their own rugby shirts too and stopping to take a photo.
The butcher is serving customers from its doorway and people can buy up to six items at the shop, or place larger orders online for collection.
Kevin added: “We’re finding more people have been coming to us during the pandemic – it’s bringing people back to local shops.
"We always say Southwick is the forgotten place but we’ve got lots of great independent shops here, from barbers to jewellers.
“Phil Spence at Southwick Print Shop also did all our posters – local shops have all been coming together.
“The Six Nations Challenge is a good laugh and it takes people’s minds off what’s going on at the moment.”
For more information, visit www.southwicksquaremeatsltd.co.uk.
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