Come and visit our spanking new Shop!

31 years ago

It has been a long 31 years ago since our last refit. Technology beckoned - so we took the opportunity, to update the whole Shop to reflect what our valued customers expect from a Premium Quality Master Butcher.

Obsessive about quality

Master Butchers are not only obsessive about the quality of the produce they purvey - but also the look and style of their Shops.

Heritage, Craftsmanship and Provenance

Heritage, craftsmanship and provenance feature highly on a Master Butchers priorities - so we took our inspiration for our Shop’s refit back to the date and era we were established by our founder Frank Godfrey, in 1905, five generations of Godfreys ago.

No change there then!

Back in Edwardian times Butchers tended to be big, florid and with a big leather belt around their waist - distinguishing them from any other shopkeepers - no change there then!

There was no refrigeration

In those days there was no refrigeration, as we know it today.

Sides of Beef would be hung in the shop - or kept in ice safes - stocked up by the local iceman

Kept immaculately clean

Butchers shops were decorated with pristine tiles and sawdust on the floors - which was swept away every day and replaced with new sawdust for the next day.

At the end of each day Chopping boards were scrubbed down with wire brushes and washed - as were the choppers and knives

What was on display

Sausages were made in the Shop in front of the customers using crank-handled red machinery - and then hung on hooks for display in the window.

Bones would be on sale for customers to use to flavour their soups - or as a special treat for a lucky dog!

Fat cut fresh from the carcass would also be on display. Fat would be rendered down for dripping. This was a popular meal on its own, spread thickly on a slice of toast.

Beef Suet would be cut from the side of Beef and minced, ready to be made into pastry for a steamed meat pudding or pie filled with delicious diced Leg of Beef.

Beef dominated the meat selection

The 1940s

By the 1940s the first refrigerated window displays were beginning to appear, and therefore Butchers started to sell refrigerated meat for the first time.

What a butchers shop looked like

You can get an idea what an Edwardian butcher shop looked like by visiting the beautifully preserved W Plumb Family Butchers shop in Hornsey Road, London.

Now a Museum, it is open at weekends only, and for only small numbers at a time by its current owner.

For those who can’t get there, do go on to the Internet and search for W Plumb Family Butchers, press images, for of a delightful journey into how much style and care went into making a Premium Quality Edwardian Butchers Shop

How Meat is now reared, sourced and sold

New standards of hygiene, provenance requirements, supermarkets, and a vastly changing farmers scene, have all served to have an impact on how Meat is now reared, sourced and sold.

Impeccable Provenance

Here at Godfreys we are determined to uphold the Master Butchers standards of impeccable provenance, with a nod to our five generations of experience; Premium Quality Master craftsmanship; our 105 year old Heritage - whilst embracing all that the new technologies offer and make available to us

Leaving a legacy

The modernized shop is not as ornate as Plumbs Butchers, but it does take its inspiration from Plumbs and other Edwardian butchers, and bring it hopefully not just into the requirements of todays world, but also for the next generation of Godfreys - and perhaps beyond - plus leaving a legacy for the residents and customers in the area

Restore and preserve

The new shop restores and preserve the original gilded, glazed and much-loved Godfreys sign that has been there for generations

Go back to the original

The refurbished Shop front goes back to the original carved and moulded wooden frames, painted in our original Dark Green gloss. There is a striking hand crafted brass name plate running the length of the window - similar in style to those you see in Jermyn Street or Fortnum & Masons

Allow for more space

The existing door has been brought forward to allow more customer space inside as well as more display space for the meats

Hand crafted

Inside the walls will feature hand crafted Edwardian dark green and cream tiles with hand finished rolled cornices. The floor complements the interior with a classic Edwardian geometric tile design

The wall tiles have a translucence, intensity and depth unmatched by any other manufacturer in the world

Exquisite Verde Marinace surfaces

On the counters we have used the unique and exquisite Verde Marinace granite -polished - with rolled edges sculpted to perfection.

Verde Marinace is formed in Brazilian riverbeds from countless multi coloured pebbles petrified over millions of years - to give this sumptuous colour combination that echoes the Edwardian tiles beautifully

Edwardian tile framed sepia prints

On the back wall there are Edwardian tile framed sepia prints showing some of our original shops where we proudly point out our great grandfathers

Solid wood beamed ceiling

The ceiling is now crafted from solid wood with beams that give a warm homely feeling

Brass butchers rails

Brass butchers rails run around the Shop, hung with hooks and chains for traditional butchers displays

Care and attention Premium Quality meat deserves

And the bespoke refrigeration cabinets offer an even larger display space with state of the art engineering and lighting to give our Premium Quality meats the care and attention Free Range Premium Quality meats deserve

See the Meats maturing

Inside the Shop you can see a new feature, a state of the art Coldroom Cabinet - for the traditional dry aging of our meats.

This allows our customers to actually see the Meats maturing - and how they change just as they do in our other three large walk-in, state of the art dry aging Maturation Rooms

Warm, welcoming and cosy

Finally the tired old polystyrene ceiling, which we always hated, is now replaced by authentic timber boarding, using floor board joists and wooden beams to help us retain that warm, welcoming and cosy atmosphere, and period appearance

Preserving the classic and traditional friendly appearance

We have hopefully preserved the classic and traditional friendly appearance and atmosphere of the old shop, but can now offer a considerably greater stock of Cuts in the enlarged refrigerated display units, and more space for customers visiting our Shop

What We Do - in the Shop

Finding true Premium Quality Meat can be a daunting task.

Complete range of Meats

Here at Godfreys we daily offer a complete range of meats and poultry that covers most of our personal customers requirements and which has earned us the title of Best Butchers Shop in Britain

Impeccable provenance

Our Free Range additive-free produce is traditionally reared from only the pick of slow maturing breeds.

Reared on farms that only practice the highest levels of animal husbandry - in stress free natural environments - and fed only on natural diets.

Only that level of care produces the exceptional textures and tastes that only such an impeccable provenance can provide.

A pleasurable experience

We prepare most of our produce by hand in the shop, and can cut to your requirements - or offer advice on cuts or cooking for particular dishes.

These days we can forget that shopping for your Meat should be a pleasurable experience, and sometimes even an exciting adventure or voyage of discovery.

Match the changing seasons

In our very friendly Shop we hope we offer you that experience with an ever varied menu that match the changing seasons.

A service that has attracted a very loyal clientele which has amongst its number many prestigious food journalists and writers, Chefs and TV personalities - many of whom visit us on a daily basis.

So if you wish to rediscover the pleasure of the traditional taste of Premium Quality Meat and Poultry - and at the same time have an enjoyable experience in buying it - why not come along one day and see what its like?

So do visit our Shop

We do like showing off our newly refitted Shop with its spanking new refrigerated cabinets and gorgeous meat displays which now do justice to what a Premium Quality Master Butchers Shop should look like in todays world

We have been absolutely amazed at the fantastic reception given by customers entering into the shop for the first time since the refit

People just seem to love the Shops appearance, friendly ambiance and astonishing range of Premium Quality Meats on display - beautifully presented - and certainly good enough to eat!

If you haven’t visited the newly refitted Shop you are more than welcome - even if you don’t buy anything - but we hope you really do like it - and come back again and again! 

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Christmas Opening, Collection and Delivery Times at Godfreys

We only supply Free Range Premium Quality Meats which are in limited supply by the very nature of their natural rearing requirements - so please order as early as possible so we can ensure that your requirements for the festive period are correctly catered for and are completely to your satisfaction.

The Shop and Unit will observe the Christmas and Holiday opening and closing times as shown on the Godfreys.co website - but it is best to order early as we always have substantial Collection queues and very limited - if any - available Delivery slots - on the last few days  

Please don't forget that the last day for placing orders for Delivery or Collection is Sunday 15th December 2024

Deliveries Nationwide

Last Order Date Sunday 15th December for deliveries up to and including Friday 20th December

Local London Deliveries

Last Order Date Sunday 15th December for deliveries up to and including Tuesday 24th December 

Please check beforehand - on our Website - that your Postcode is  within the Local Delivery Area that we deliver to

Finsbury Park Collections

Last Order Date Sunday 15th December for collections up to and including Tuesday 24th December

Highbury Shop Collections

Last Order Date Sunday 15th December for collections up to and including Tuesday 24th December

Remember we have a speedy and safe, dedicated collection Service that avoids the Christmas long queue - if you place your order on the Web for collection at the Highbury Shop

Web site orders can still be placed on or after Sunday 15th December over the Holiday period for Collection or Local Delivery on Saturday 28th December onwards or Nationwide Delivery Friday 3rd January 2025 onwards 

	Godfreys Opening Times		Godfreys Collection Times
	Highbury Shop		Highbury Shop	Finsbury Unit
Sunday 22nd December	8am - 2pm		9am - 1pm	8am - 2pm
Monday 23rd December	8am - 5pm		8am - 4.30pm	8am - 2pm
Christmas Eve Tuesday 24th December	7am - 2pm		8am - 1pm	8am - 1pm
Christmas Day Wednesday 25th December	Closed		Closed	Closed
Boxing Day Thursday 26th December	Closed		Closed	Closed
Friday 27th December	Closed		Closed	Closed
Saturday 28th December	8am - 3pm		9am - 2pm	10am - 2pm
Sunday 29th December	Closed		Closed	Closed
Monday 30th December	8am - 5pm		9am - 4.30pm	10am - 4pm
New Years Eve Tuesday 31st December	8am - 3pm		9am - 2.30pm	10am - 2pm
New Years Day Wednesday 1st January 2025	Closed		Closed	Closed
Thursday 2nd January 2025	8am - 2pm		9am - 1.30pm	10am - 2pm
Friday 3rd January 2025	8am - 5pm		10am - 4pm	10am - 2pm

 

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Normal Opening Times

	Highbury Shop	Finsbury Unit
Monday	8am - 5pm	8am - 3pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm	8am - 3pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm	8am - 3pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm	8am - 3pm
Friday	8am - 5pm	8am - 3pm
Saturday	8am - 5pm	8am - 2pm
Sunday	Closed	Closed

For further information please contact us at:

Shop

7 Highbury Park,
Islington,
London,
N5 1QJ

Tel: 020 7226 2425
Fax: 020 7263 8016

Email: care@godfreys.co

Contact Hours - Monday to Friday: 8am to 5pm, Saturday: 8am to 5pm

Meat Preparation Facilities

Unit 12 Morris Place,
Finsbury Park, London, N4 3JG
London,
N4 3JG

Tel: 020 7561 1713
Fax: 020 7263 8016

Email: care@godfreys.co

Contact Hours - Monday to Saturday: 4am to 2pm