A butchers whose pork ribs have been savoured by US president Barack Obama is under new ownership.
Slatters Butchers in Chadlington has been at the heart of the West Oxfordshire village for more than 100 years.
And it was very much on the map before Clarkson’s Farm rolled into town.
When David Cameron and the Obamas fired up the barbecue in honour of decorated British and American servicemen on the lawns of Downing Street in 2011, it was ribs in a Chinese glaze from Slatters that were dished up.
The butchers, a stone’s throw from Mr Cameron’s home in Dean, has been keeping the former Prime Minister stocked with prime ribs for years.
Now premium meat wholesaler the Cotswold Meat Company has bought the business which went on the market last September with a £750,000 asking price.
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Cotswold Meat Company is celebrating its first year of trading under new owner, Nick Passmore, and the shop has been purchased in partnership with butcher Tom Gratton.
Mr Passmore said: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce that Tom and I have purchased Slatters Butchers, a business which has been at the heart of the village of Chadlington for over 100 years – and we very much intend to keep it this way.
"The decision to purchase Slatters comes during a period of continued investment and growth for the Cotswold Meat Company.
"It was a natural next step to purchase our own butchers, and I’m delighted to do this in partnership with Tom – a fantastic butcher with considerable experience.”
Mr Gratton said Slatters "is integral to Chadlington and we’re delighted to keep it as a butchers in the fantastic community it’s an established part of.”
“Our purchase of Slatters means we can prepare a comprehensive range of fresh, premium quality British produce and deliver exactly what our customers want, in-house.
"We can keep the supply chain local to the Cotswolds, which is fantastic when consumer demand for provenance and ‘best of British’ is at an all-time high."
The shop, in West End, was built in 1892 and has been home to a butchers since 1874.
It was taken over by John Slatter in 1956 and Mr Slatter, wife Beryl, and their three sons Jonathan, Martin and Michael, lived and worked at the butchers, which would deliver and sell products to villages across West Oxfordshire.
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Martin and his wife took over the business 35 years ago, but last year made the decision to sell up.
His sister-in-law Nadine explained: “It’s the right time to sell, everyone has fond memories but obviously don’t want to be landlords for ever.
“It’s a lovely building and iconic in the village, where there’s always been such a good, tight community.
“It’s likely to remain as a butchers or a shop of some sort in the village, which is what everyone will want.
“It’s the end of an era so it will be sad to let go but Martin has done his time and wants to do other things now without the hassle of being a landlord.”
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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris
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Profile: Miranda Norris Journalists news from the Oxford Mail
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