Where we source our food

Probably the most important thing about our meals is the quality of our raw materials.

Modern factory farming demands the highest yield in the shortest possible time. Some of the methods of production make us feel uncomfortable. Animals may be put under a lot of pressure to grow and reproduce quickly. They don't always get the chance to lead a normal life.

Inevitably, most ready meals use factory-farmed meat because it is cheap. But sometimes the lack of quality means artificial flavours have to be added, to improve taste and colour. Preservatives are usually included, to make the product last longer.

However there are still producers who choose not to get caught up in the helter-skelter rush for the highest yield at minimum cost. They still value traditional methods of farming, and prefer to offer a more natural diet and better standards of animal welfare.

The high moors and lush valleys of Northern England have some of the most natural landscape in the world. This wonderful backdrop produces fabulous livestock and game.

We have worked hard to seek out suppliers who produce great-tasting food in a traditional way.

We buy our beef from 3 National Trust farms which form part of the Wallington estate in Northumberland. These farms are all 'Freedom Foods' approved by the RSPCA, guaranteeing high standards of animal welfare. We have recently started to buy our lamb from Ingram Valley, the sheep are reared in the exceptionally beautiful and rugged foothills of the mighty Cheviot and it is quite simply delicious!

Our cheese comes from Doddington Dairy, again in the foothills of the Cheviot, fabulously flavoursome artisan cheese which enhance beautifully our smoked haddock and the wonderful spinach and mushroom lasagne. The cheese matures slowly giving a wonderful depth of flavour not found in mass produced cheeses.

We buy our smoked haddock from a small fishery on the NorthEast coast near Redcar where it is smoked over oak chips in the time honoured fashion.

Our most recent addition is that of the Wensleydale brewery, making beer in the heart of the Yorkshire dales, they have a fantastic rangeof bottled and draught beers and we hope to use more and more in our cooking! In the meantime, the Black Dub Ale has clearly been the secret to success for our Overnight Shinbeef which won a gold award in the Great Taste awards.

Our game is from Yorkshire Game, which supplies venison predominantly from West of Scotland estates and other game from local shoots.

Our delicious ready meals are prepared with no added colours or preservatives.
All of our ready meals are free range.