THIS Bridgwater butcher is top of the chops.

Eugene Gainard has been declared overall champion at this year’s Agrifest Southwest – an agricultural event held at Westpoint, Exeter.

Eugene Gainard, who runs Regency Butchers in Rhode Lane, said he was ‘gobsmacked’ to discover he had won five awards at the competition on Wednesday, November 8.

The butcher bagged gold for his fillet steaks, rib eye steaks and burgers and silver for sirloin steak.

Mr Gainard said: “I am still gobsmacked to be honest with you, we did well last year but this year we have swept up.

“Mark Gilbert really came up trumps with the burgers and I am just lost for words. 

“To beat more than 30 other entries from across the South West is a real achievement.”

Mr Gainard said the secret to his success is the talented team he works with to carefully select the meats, which are all locally sourced from Stillman’s.

He said: “We now supply a lot of pubs from Bridgwater, Cannington to Burnham-on-Sea and Exmoor, and that is all through word of mouth, we have not done a lot of advertising.”

Mr Gainard has run Regency Butchers from Rhode Lane for the past four years and wanted to thank all his regular customers for their support.

Agrifest South West 2017 is organised by the National Beef Association and is “designed to showcase the breadth and depth of quality breeding and production”.

The one day show took place at Westpoint, Exeter, on Wednesday, November 8 and as well as the many awards also featured a pedigree calf show, seminars and cattle and sheep equipment handling demonstrations.


Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex – president of the Devon County Agricultural Association – also visited the event.