M J Dalton Butchers has the appearance of a traditional butcher all the way down to the sawdust on…read morethe floor. It's clean and friendly and does a sideline in condiments and conserves. But what it's most famous for is the selection of exotic meats that are flown in from South Africa. These include crocodile, springbok, wildebeest and zebra. It's clear that they are aiming for the speciality niche in the Bristol market, as they also offer quite a selection of eggs, with pretty speckled quail eggs in a basket on the counter. Then there's things like chitterling and homemade faggots listed on one of the several sandwich boards outside, and don't forget the pork and beef dripping, white and black pudding and tripe! But the best item, to my mind, is the 'handraised pork pies'! Someone please tell me how you had rear a pork pie! Joking aside, this butchers is great. I tend to go for the more conventional cuts of meat (and by their own admission most other people do too - they say they stock things like crocodile and zebra for the novelty value so that people can try it once). I also like a bit of black pudding every now and then, and it's good to know that there's a butchers with an exhaustive selection of stock in Bristol, so that I can guarantee that I will always get what I want.

A family business well established for over twenty years in Bristol, Daltons is where I come for my…read moresausages without a doubt. The sheer selection in this old school butchers shop is second to none. Prime cuts of beef, pork and chicken are supplied to local schools, nursing homes and restaurants as well as the hungry locals. Pigeon, pheasant, partridge and venison are some of my other favourites gracing the menu board alongside veal and rabbit. They don't just buy the stuff in and knock it back out, but they live it. They know it. Behind the scenes are some of the cleanest most professional kitchens I have ever seen, where they make all their delights fresh and on the day - just try their 4oz lamb and mint burgers for a mere 50p! With ostrich, camel and crocodile meat as well as quail eggs being standard runners - you simply can't walk past this well stacked, well planned shop.

Everything you could possibly want to eat and drink - grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked…read moreor smoked locally by the stallholders. I like to saunter along, barter with the chirpy market folk and pick up various things for my tea - buffalo mozzarellla, honey, jam, crumbly bread and slabs of fresh meat. Don't go there when you're hungry - it's dangerous as you'll come away with twice as much. Head down to Corn Street, near St. Nick's market, every Wednesday 9.30 am -2.30pm.

Everyone in Bristol sounds like farmers so for a proper Bristolian experience a trip to the city's…read morefarmers market is a good idea. The focus is on fresh food from local producers; its the farmers themselves that are selling you the goods. There's more or less everything you could imagine finding on a farm, with highlights including the various organic meat stalls (v. expensive) and the fruit stalls later in the summer, when you can get some of the recent strawberry crop People know about their goods and love to talk about it. This isn't a supermarket experience and people are keen to have a chat - it's a bit like being in the countryside, funnily enough. It runs on a Wednesday, so if you're working in the city centre (it's based by St. Nicholas Market on Corn Street) treat yourself in your coffee/lunch break and pick up some crusty bread and cheddar cheese. You'll feel much better than you would queueing up with the other suits, even if it does cost a little bit more.

I'm as guilty as anyone for getting all my shopping in a big supermarket in one go but Henleaze…read moreRoad is one of the few places left that actually offer you the choice of buying locally. You can get your fruit and veg from Llyods and your meat at Henleaze Quality Butchers. I couldn't think of a better name, they are a quality butchers! And for the moderate price difference you can just taste the quality! They run regular and ever changing offers depending on whats in, and offer everything you could need steak, lamp chops, bacon, sausages, you name it - they've got it. My personal favourite here are their home made pies, go on, try one!

Free range wild boar and cranberry sausages! seriousley! need I say any more!…read more A brilliatn butchers, a fantastic selections of meats, a wartm smile to great you upon entry. What more could you possibly want. Haggis? well they do that as well! There is also a wonderful selection of cold meats, some fantastically large pork pies, and a few cheeses. You can't beat a butchers for suculent meats and fresh foods, and as stated at the start... Cranberry and boar sausages!

If you like meat, nothing beats going to a local butcher's and ordering the cut you like at the…read moreprices you like. Bob Wherlock is the best. Juicy sausages of twenty different flavours (the jalapeno ones knock your socks off), thick steaks, roasting joints and stewing meat and more. They know what they're talking about and can advise on the best meats and condiments for your dinner party or Sunday roast. The cheeses are lush too (although quite basic English cheddars, red leicesters etc). A serious word of warning. The meat-eaters of Southville know all about the delights of Bob Wherlock. Consequently, I have queued for a very long time on a Saturday morning to get served (over half an hour sometimes). The people snake down North Street waiting for their sunday roasting joint or chicken. The Christmas turkey rush is even worse - but that's a sure sign it's very good meat. If that's not enough to prove to you how great this place is (and you've yet to taste the meat) Bob himself recently won a local food hero award. Well deserved.

Great local butcher shop in Southville - it isn't the cheapest butcher but they do have some nice…read morecuts of meat, choices of sausages and lots of pies. If you're not sure what to have then they are ready with good ideas and happy to explain what the cut means. They are generous with their portions, and the quality is very good. They have choices of local meats clearly labelled if you want to keep it close to home.

I am so glad to see this shop get such great reviews! They really deserve it and offer such a…read moredelicious range of sausages; like some sort of sausage pick and mix. They are also one of the cheapest meal options in St Nicks Market at around £2.80 for an amazing sausage baguette with leeks, onions, mustard and red (eugh) or brown (yay!) sauce. You can also mix and match your sausages, so if like me you can't choose between the lamb or pork (with cider and mustard) you can just get both. I think the pork wins it, but only by a nose (or a snout, weyhey, I thank you!). The man who owns the sausage shop is so lovely and welcoming. I have eaten a lot of his sausages (...er) and this has never changed; he's never had an off day being a nice guy. The sausage sandwiches/baguettes are quite hard to manoeuvre into your mouth, because the sausages are so big and juicy, so there is the option to have sausage and mash. This is a great option for lunch as it's so filling you are sorted until tea time.

If you like your sausage full of meat (fnarr fnarr) then this is the stall for you. Locally sourced…read morepork, beef and venison sausages with a range of herbs and spices. Ones to try:: Lucifer - whooo mamma hot and spicy but very tasty St Nicks 1743 - their own secret blend is actually my favourite - quite traditional pork and herbs but full of flavour Gloucestershire Old Spot - from the spottiest of pigs and a nice basic sausage if you don't like anything too fancy Works out pretty cheap considering the size and density of the sausage too. If you want to get stuffed by sausages (OK I'll stop now), then they also have an on-site bbq for a sausage and mash for lunch - for big appetites only!

The shop close to, and on the same side as the McDonalds drive through, but the new shop sign makes…read morethe shop harder to find as the shop looks closed, I think a led 'OPEN' sign is needed. The patrons are always friendly, and helpful. The shop provides groceries of English, Indian, East Euro, Turkish quite a mix, and getting a tin of Chickpea Chana Masala, to eat with rice or some naan...just lush. The store is like stepping into Dr Who's Tardis :-)

Nowadays it's very important to back the smaller stores as opposed to the larger, faceless…read moreorganisations (in my opinion anyway) and with the International Food Centre it couldn't be easier. Like the Sweet Mart in Easton this is a store that is all about the customer. They buy in only the best quality fruit and vegetables, for example, and sell it at reasonable and affordable prices. It's all organic and locally sourced where possible - stocked full of love and good energy. The Asian food section is immense with every type of spice and raw bean imaginable. It's a good place too to find adverts and posters for local and ethical happenings. A great store that comes highly recommended.

A butcher is about as traditional a shop as you can get, in my opinion. Changing lifestyles, more…read morenational supermarkets and political / cultural issues have all threatened the humble British butcher over the years. Dave Giles in Bishopston, a family run business, has been in the game for well over 20 years and still going strong. For me I love the feel of the place - the atmosphere. Nowhere else can you buy pots of pure beef drip or goose fat like you used to. All the pork is free range and they strive so hard to keep everything fresh, local and organic. Christmas time is a treat on its own, as a Dickensian turkey buying scene opens up every cold winter's day. Dave Giles is a good, traditional British butcher and well worth the trip.

Dave Giles Butchers is sadly, as far as I know, the only butcher that sells organic meat on…read moreGloucester Road. Others used to stock it, but are now only carrying cheaper cuts, probably another saddening upshot of the credit crunch. Thankfully Dave Giles is pretty central to the street, and there's on-street parking close by. It's also a few doors down from Pawson's greengrocers, making a shop for the evening meal an easy one. Established in 1990, Dave has been around for a while. When I called in recently to pick up some lamb chops, he was there with his assistant chopping up chickens with dexterity, talking as he worked. He's an affable character with a good sense of humour, and takes real care with everything he does. His window display is simple but effective, and daily signs are created in beautiful script, letting passers-by know exactly what's on offer. If it's extremely fresh, top quality meats you're after, Dave Giles is the man that you need to go and see.

This is a great Butcher's shop. It always top quality for everything you buy…read more They sell the good old things, like Bath Chaps, and they make their own faggots that taste like my Grandmother's, they are to die for. They make their own sausages, all different flavours. Christmas you need to order your meat, anything you ask for you get, Gammon, Capons, anything, you can pick it up any time you like, they open really early and close late, the prices are really competitive for the quality. I would reccomend it to everyone.

This lovely farm shop is located in the countryside outside of Bristol near Frampton Cotterell and…read moreYate. They have pick your own fruit (strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, black and red currant) during the summer, and have started raising their own pigs and cattle. The shop has been expanded to include a cafe and a butcher's, and you can pick up a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery items, meat, free-range eggs, dairy products and the ingredients to make your own meals and breads. There is also a wide range of tea, coffee, sweets, niche items and seasonal treats to tempt you. They also have a frozen section so you can purchase food to cook at a later date, and seasonal fruits when out of season. The staff are very friendly, and helpful. Children are welcome to help feed the pigs (buckets outside have food for the children to do this) and there is a small play area to keep them busy on a nice day. There are also plants and flowers available to purchase in the front of the shop as well as in an organic section of land behind the shop. It's well worth a trip to visit

I absolutely adore this shop and fortunately its handy for me. Its rural location and the fact it…read morehas pigs on site make it great fun for the children and I like the fact the shop leaves food outside that you can help yourselves to in order to feed the pigs, great fun. The store itself has the most fabulous range of fresh produce, the fruit and vegetables are always so fresh and more importantly taste of the fruit they are supposed to. They have a really good selection of meats and the meat is particularly well priced. All the top quality food manufacturers are sold here, all quite expensive but then when it tastes so good you only need a small amount. They do freezer meals, but not like ready made tonnes of additives - real food, and their fresh breads are amazing. There is a small cafe selling beautiful cakes and it is well worth a visit.

There is a great wealth of Halal food places in Eastern which is fantastic…read more A friend of mine who's just moved to Bristol used to speak about his difficulty in finding Halal meat, or a variety of sources, but after a my discovery in Eastern he has been very pleased. He cooked me a meal with meat from Pak Butchers (I should know where it came from - had to give him a hand with all his bags of shopping when he went there!), and I though it was pretty good, weather or not it was everything he cooked it with, or if it was down to the meat is something i'll never know. I did think at the time that he was paying a little too much, but I gues you pay for the quality of the meat. Also a sub note... anyone fancy giving me a hand next time I have to carry my friends shopping? ... I nearly put my back out!

Serving the Islamic communities of Cardiff and Bristol Pak Butchers are now front runners in Halal…read moreand hand slaughtered meat and poultry. They offer a massive range of meat that is for both wholesale and retail. I'm not a huge meat eater so shops absolutely ram packed with the stuff aren't really my cup of tea, but you can swipe up some pretty unique numbers such as King Fish and whole mutton. It does seem to be a shop geared mainly at the many restaurants on St Marks rd that offer Halal meat, so it's little wonder they are so keen on hygiene. With more food storage and health and safety certificates than you can shake a stick at, when I do need to buy meat this is definitely a safe bet.