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ADVERTORIAL
Baird's Butchers is a Newry institution, having been in Canal Street in the city for over 90 years.The business originally started off in what is currently Timoneys Ice Cream shop and moved across the road to its present location a few years later.
Present proprietor William Baird has worked there since he was a child. Baird explains "Like any family business you are in from any age. I started full time from 16/17 and haven't looked back. I don't think you ever take over the business. I've worked along with my mum for years and she's still very much in the background. My wife Jenny has now come into it too."
Last year the offering from the butchers shop at 13 Canal Street was expanded, with the opening of Bairds Butchers Wholesale next door, offering products at wholesale/ catering prices to the public.
The Bathhouse
The wholesale department occupies part of a beautiful building known as The Bathhouse. It is believed it was used in the 19th, possibly 18th Century, by sailors coming off Newry Canal for a good clean up with no doubt local residents also using the facility. It was also most likely the location for Newry's first Cinema. A garage was also on the site from 1910's/20's right through until the 70's!
The back part of the building was idle for around 18 months and owner William Baird had been thinking of a wholesale initiative. "We bought this property about 2000 as a derelict property and rebuilt it in 2005/2006 and had it leased out of and on since, and we had a notion for doing this wholesale project for a number of years and bit the bullet and decided to do it." he said.
Products
Bairds Butchers Wholesale offer a wide variety of cut meats and cooked products in larger packs, especially useful for cafes, restaurants or large families.
They have a large fridge and large freezer stuffed with bargains. From uncooked pies to sausage rolls and burgers, large bags of mince or sausages or bacon as well as steak, brisket, chicken fillets, turkey, lamb and much more.
Packaging is also available along with a large selection of knives, kitchen utensils. condiments rubs, sauces and jams and pour over sauces. Additionally food hampers on display can be purchased from £15 or you can make them up yourself with whatever you want in them.
With Barbecue season just around the corner, all your Barbecue needs are also available from large bags of webber charcoal to boxes of frozen burgers.
From Farm to Fork
In the present climate where traceability is so important and customers want to know where their meat has come from, William Baird Butchers supply the shop and wholesale business from their own farm.
Baird adds "We supply our own cattle through the shop. We farm down at Loughbrickland and have done for a number of years. A farm to fork idea, a bit more traceability, you've better control over the quality side of it, especially in the run up to the slaughter stage."
As well as the Canal Street business Baird's supply local hotels, restaurants and stores including Killeavy Castle, Craft Restaurant, Finegan and Son, the Patrick Street Spar and Fegan's Farm shop, Loughbrickland.
Opening Hours
The new enterprise can be accessed through the back of William Baird Butchers or via New Street/ Canal Quay Car Park. Doors are open from 8am-6pm Monday to Saturday. The facility is Self Service so you can just work away, with a Self-Service Checkout on site or assistance is always available.
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