Castletown Butchers – July 2013

The opening lines of the 1974 Christmas hit for folk singer Ralph McTell has tenuous links with a small Scottish village on the shores of the Pentland Firth. The village of Castletown has no closed down market or newspapers kicking around its proud and well maintained streets but much of Castletown was built during the 19th century boom years of Caithness as a source of flagstone.

A great amount of the stone was processed in the harbour area of the village, known as Castlehill, and many of the streets of London, Sydney, Edinburgh and the financial district of New York City are paved with it.

Ralph McTell reached number two in the charts with the Streets of London and just as it suggests it is worth reaching out for a hand to lead you through them, if you have not discovered the difference when shopping at a craft butchers then Castletown Butchers will show you something to make you change your mind.

It may be one of the most northerly butchers shops on the UK mainland but there is no way that Castletown Butchers have allowed themselves to be isolated from current trends. This is a busy shop that is welcoming, shining bright and with a good fresh feel to it. Castletown boasts just a population of 800 but the butchers' is well supported by the local community.

The village is situated just six miles east of Thurso and 15 miles away from Wick. It sustains a well-stocked licensed grocery, a fish and chip shop, a garden centre, a garage with petrol and diesel pumps, two hairdressers, a beauty therapist, a primary school with nursery, an after-school club, a branch of the Royal Bank in addition to Castletown Butchers.

Derek Mackay worked in co-ops in Thurso and Wick before going to work for Gavin Fulton at Castletown Butchers. That was in 2006 but two and a half years later the opportunity arose for Derek to take over the lease. As one of only two shops in the village there was a positive response to the new boss.

Derek expanded the grocery lines four fold and offered essentials like milk and rolls. His display counter stretches for the entire depth of the shop and it is neatly filled with the most attractive looking meat and stimulating meat products.

The walls have been covered with wet wall lining, new tills, new freezers and smart new work tops behind the counter. The look is chic and contemporary while still retaining the character of a traditional butchers' shop. Air conditioning was installed in 2010. There has been constant investment as Derek tries to cater for all needs and his customers have been most appreciative. He said:-

“We have certainly got a lot busier since we took over. The first year we took over the Christmas orders were about 100, last year we had 350. We are just getting busier and busier. We have very good loyal customers in Castletown but a lot from the surrounding area from Thurso and Wick too.

Beef is sourced from George Campbell at Thurdistoft Farm just half a mile out of town. Pork and Lamb comes from Munros in Dingwall or from Rhinds of Elgin. Sausages, Burgers and Steak Pies are all made on the premises. Black Pudding is bought in from Charles MacLeod in Stornoway but Derek still makes his own white pudding and haggis. The haggis and scotch pie recipes are old traditional ones that came from Polsons, a long established butchers in Wick.

Tradition is matched with use of Facebook and with the business 'liked' in all quarters it appears to thrive. When Derek started on his own he was assisted by his partner, Barbara, and just one of member of staff but now there are seven of a staff, only two of whom are part time.

The caravan site at Dunnet provides business from tourists. Business booms on a Friday and Saturday but the pictures of displays which were taken unannounced on a Monday forenoon demonstrate the kind of offering and range that clearly draws customers back regularly to the Castletown Butchers on any day of the week.

Trade had moved on from Boiling Beef and Lamb Flank to stir fries, pastry wheels and unique products like White Pudding Truffles. The supermarkets grief with the horsemeat scandal proved to be a great boost for Castletown Butchers and many pledges were made across the counter that these new found customers would not be buying meat in the likes of Tesco ever again.

Together with his cat, it was Dick Whittington who went to London, because he has been told, and naively believed, that the streets were paved with gold. He decided to leave when he found that they were not. That was before the Caithness flagstone was sent south and long before Derek Mackay went into business for himself.

Traill Street in Castletown has carrots rather than carats but Derek will continue to work hard with his steady policy of constant upgrading. His formula this far has proven to very successful and long way that midas touch prevail.

Attachments:

• CASTLETOWN_BUTCHERS_080713.pdf