Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2017 | Page 99

Food and drink Pubs sign up for a rare beef deal Diners at two Island pubs will be able to feast exclusively on an award- winning local beef, thanks to a deal between pub owner Sam Shaw and farmer Ron Holland. Ron, a former long-time dairy farmer who began concentrating on beef production 20 years ago, set about developing his brand as a reaction against the kind of rapidly-fattened beef that was fast becoming a supermarket commodity. Kemphill Farm’s methods, which “I trust him implicitly, and he assures me that his two pubs have the capacity to take what we produce”. allow cattle to forage naturally for most of their lives and only lay on fat in their final 2-3 weeks, produce a beef that’s a cut above the rest - and one that has built an enthusiastic following. Now he’s taking things a step further by signing up to a ‘sole rights’ agreement with Sam Shaw, owner of The Fighting Cocks and The Chequers Inn. “I’ve known Sam since he was a child” says Ron, “I trust him implicitly, and he assures me that his two pubs have the capacity to take what we produce”. Sam commented: “We’re looking forward tremendously to having Ron’s product exclusively at our pubs and I’m sure the customers will be as pleased as we are about it!” www. visitilife.com 99