Updated 30 September 2026
Searching for the best butchers near you usually comes down to one question: should you use local butchers on the high street, or order from an online butcher? We're an online butcher ourselves, based at St Stephen, near St Austell in Cornwall, and sending chilled boxes across most of mainland UK. So we'll be upfront: both have real strengths. Here's an honest comparison of what you actually get from each, and how to tell a good butcher wherever you shop.
What a good local butcher does well
A good high street butcher is a real asset, and if you have one nearby, use them.
- You can see the meat before you buy, and pick the exact steak or joint you want.
- Cutting to order. A local butcher can French-trim a rack, bone and roll a shoulder, or cut steaks to a precise thickness while you wait.
- Advice across the counter. Ask how long to roast a joint or what to use for a curry and you'll get an answer from someone who knows.
- No delivery wait. Buy it this morning, cook it tonight.
- Local sourcing. Many local butchers know exactly which farms their meat comes from.
The downsides: opening hours, parking, a smaller range on any given day, and prices that can be higher, especially for bulk quantities.
What an online butcher does well
- Range in one order. Beef, pork, lamb and chicken, from steaks to bulk packs, plus sauces and trimmings, all in one delivery.
- Bulk buying and value. Online butchers often sell larger packs and bundles, such as 5kg chicken breast packs or mixed hampers, that work out cheaper per kilo.
- Convenience. Order any time and it comes to your door, packed chilled in an insulated box.
- Freezer filling. It's easier to stock up for a month in one order than to carry it home from a shop.
The downsides: you can't see or pick the individual piece, you need to be in (or have a safe place) for delivery, and you have to plan ahead rather than buying on the day.
Local butchers vs online butchers: side by side
| Local butcher | Online butcher | |
|---|---|---|
| See and choose the meat | Yes | No: packed to the listed weight |
| Cutting to order | Yes, often while you wait | Limited to the listed cuts |
| Range | Depends on the day | Usually wide, including bulk packs |
| Price | Varies; bulk can be expensive | Often lower per kilo on bundles and bulk |
| Advice | Face to face | Cooking guides, email and phone |
| Convenience | Shop hours and travel | Delivered to your door |
| Planning | Buy on the day | Order ahead for a delivery day |
How to spot a good butcher, online or local
- Clear information: cut, weight, pack size, and whether it's fresh, frozen or previously frozen.
- Honest descriptions: no vague "premium selection" without saying what's in it.
- Proper packaging: chilled and insulated for delivery, or well wrapped in the shop.
- Good advice: cooking guidance for what you buy.
- Straightforward delivery terms: clear charges, thresholds and delivery days.
- Real reviews: look at independent reviews, not just a handful on the product page.
How we do it
We're one butchery in Cornwall, not a chain of shops. Orders are picked and packed at St Stephen and sent out chilled, in an insulated box with ice packs. Weekday delivery is free on orders over £85 (£80 in Scotland) and £6.95 under that, with no minimum order. See our delivery information. If you're looking for a butcher near you, our butchers near me page explains how our delivery works wherever you are.
For value, our Butcher’s Budget Box (£39.99) covers the week's basics: pork loin steaks, gammon steaks, 1kg chicken breasts, unsmoked back bacon and pork sausages. For bigger orders, see our meat hampers guide and buying meat in bulk.
Which should you use?
Many people use both. Use a local butcher when you want something specific cut to order, or need it today. Use an online butcher to stock the freezer, buy in bulk, or get everything in one delivery. If you don't have a good butcher nearby, ordering online gets you butcher's cuts without the trip.
Getting the best from an online order
- Plan a delivery day when someone will be in.
- Clear freezer space before a big order.
- Freeze on arrival anything you won't use within a couple of days, in meal-sized portions.
- Read the product page for pack sizes and whether an item is frozen.
- Use the guides. Our cooking guides cover most cuts we sell.
Read more on why buying from a butcher online beats the supermarket and counter cuts like a high street butcher. Browse our meat boxes and hampers.
Local and online butcher FAQs
Are local butchers better than supermarkets?
Often, for advice, cutting to order and knowing where the meat comes from. Prices vary, so compare per kilo.
Is an online butcher cheaper than a local butcher?
It can be, especially for bulk packs and bundles, but it depends on what you buy. Remember to factor in delivery charges.
How is meat delivered from an online butcher?
Ours is packed chilled in an insulated box with ice packs and delivered to most of mainland UK.
Can I get meat cut to order online?
Online butchers usually sell set cuts and pack sizes. For bespoke cutting, a local butcher is best.
Where is Meat Supermarket based?
At St Stephen, near St Austell in Cornwall. We're a single butchery that delivers across most of mainland UK.
Find out why shoppers choose Meatsupermarket.com over the supermarket.
