We are proud to announce that Blacker Hall Farm has secured the Gold Award for our Steak, Jalapeño and Cheddar Burgers in the prestigious national butchery recognition programme, the Smithfield Awards!
Established in 1999 by John Garthwaite, our farm remains a family business today. Our incredible 16-strong butchery team has a combined 322 years of experience, so everyone certainly knows their stuff when it comes to the best quality meat products.
The accolades were announced as part of the 2026 Smithfield Awards, organised by the Q Guild of Butchers, which celebrate excellence in craft butchery and product innovation across the UK.
More than 200 products were put forward by butchers from across the nation for evaluation in what is widely regarded as the benchmark for quality in British craft butchery, recognising exceptional meat products across eleven categories including Home-Cured Bacon, Best Burger, BBQ Product, Best Butcher’s Steak, Traditional Pork Sausage and Speciality Game.
Entries for the 2026 awards were judged during an evaluation session held at City of Glasgow College, where a panel of industry experts, food writers and culinary professionals, headed up by Dr Jonathan Wilkin, a leading academic in food innovation, assessed each product using a rigorous points-based scoring system. Products achieving the highest scores were awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold.
The overall winners will be revealed at the official Smithfield Awards ceremony at Butchers’ Hall in London on Wednesday 22nd April where leading figures from across the meat sector will gather to celebrate excellence within the trade.
Ben Hardi, head of butchery at Blacker Hall Farm, said: “At Blacker Hall Farm, quality food is our craft. It’s shaped by experience and guided by people who genuinely know their trade and care deeply about it, so recognition like this really means something to us.
“We’re incredibly proud to receive the gold award from the Q Guild of Butchers for our steak, jalapeño and cheddar burgers. It reflects the hard work and dedication of the whole team, and the premium quality we strive to deliver every day. To be competing alongside some of the best craft butchers in the country is a real honour, and we’re excited to find out if our products will be crowned the best in the UK in London next month."
Gordon Wallace, Q Guild manager, added: “The Smithfield Awards showcase the very best of British craft butchery, celebrating the passion, skill and innovation of our members. With more than 200 products entered this year, the judging process was extremely competitive.
“Achieving a Gold award is a remarkable accomplishment and we congratulate Blacker Hall Farm on their success and wish them the best of luck as the awards reach their final stage in London.”
Fancy trying these award-winning burgers for yourself? Come and visit Blacker Hall Farm and speak to our expert butchery team today.
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