Oak House Farm opens on-site butchery on outskirts of Ipswich

Family-run business Oak House Farm has launched an on-site butchery in the village of Sproughton, offering home-grown beef and pork from rare and traditional British breeds.

The new butchery’s range of fresh meat includes Gloucestershire Old Spot and Large White pork and Suffolk Red Poll beef. Provenance is at the heart of Oak House Farm, and all the beef and pork is grown on-site and fed predominantly from crops also grown on the farm.

Now run by husband and wife team, Ben and Georgina Woolf, Oak House Farm was bought by Ben’s parents Madeline (who remains involved in the business) and her late husband Stephen in the 1980’s fulfilling Stephen’s ambitions to run a farm.  Stephen and Madeline’s previous retail business ‘Stuart’s’, was well known locally for its ladies’ fashions stores in the centre of Ipswich.

Georgina commented: “We are proud to continue Stephen’s legacy with this significant investment in our farm. The butchery provides an ideal opportunity for our customers to enjoy quality products while being mindful of the environmental impact of their food and buying local.. And, because of our field to fork set-up, we can keep prices competitive, meaning people won’t break the bank getting their meat direct from the farm.”

As well as popular and traditional cuts, the butchery range includes bacon, sausages, burgers, steaks and mince as well as lamb and chicken, which is sourced from local suppliers who share Oak House Farm’s strict traceability criteria and high welfare standards.  Meat from Oak House Farm is also used to make a range of homemade ready meals such as lasagne, cottage pie, pies and pulled pork, available in the butchery.

With less than 350 Large White and 700 Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs remaining in Britain, Georgina and Ben are committed to keeping these iconic breeds on the British landscape.

Georgina commented: “The Old Spot and Large White are pretty well known as far as pigs go, but I think the public would be surprised to learn how few of them remain. It is very important to us to be able to play a small role in keeping these wonderful breeds going.”

“Rearing rare and traditional breeds using techniques honed over many years delivers a product that is second to none.  The beef reared on the farm is marbled, sweet and succulent and both Gloucestershire Old Spot and Large White pigs produce excellent pork that is particularly noted for its high quality bacon.”

For Ben, the launch of the butchery is a landmark moment in the family history. He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed growing up on our farm. Dad’s passion was for the arable farming – the crops – but livestock make a farm.  We started with just a few chickens and then Mum started the cattle with two Red Polls and it grew from there.”

The business has evolved over time and stock numbers have continued to grow, with more than 100 cows now living on the farm.  Ben added “Like all businesses, we need to continually evolve and we are hopeful that with the new butchery our family farm is in a position to thrive for many years to come.”

As well as fresh and frozen meat, Oak House Farm also sells local eggs and honey. The new butchery, which is located on Burstall Lane, Sproughton, is open to the general public on Wednesday, 9am – 3pm, Friday, 9am – 5pm and Saturday, 10am – 4pm, and Monday, Tuesday and Thursday by appointment.

Local residents interested in popping in outside of opening hours are invited to ring Georgina ahead on 07768 088095. To find out more information about Oak House Farm, visit oakhousefarm.co.uk or follow the farm on Facebook.